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Paper bag company fined for worker injury

A fine of $50,000 has been assigned to Bag to Earth Inc./Sac au Sol Inc., which manufactures paper packaging products, after a worker was injured by a paper-bag-making machine.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Labour, the incident occurred on December 10, 2013. A worker at the company’s facility in Napanee was working as a machine operator, replacing another worker on leave. The worker observed a build-up of glue on the roller assembly of the lamination section of the bag-making machine.

The Ministry explains that the worker was using a metal scraper and a rag to clear the build-up and was wearing cotton gloves at the time. While attempting to scrape off the build-up of glue from one of the rollers, one hand was caught and pulled into the in-running nip created by two rotating rollers on the machine. The worker was able to activate the emergency pull cord located in the immediate area and stopped the machine. The worker was then able to pull the hand free.
The worker fully recovered and suffered no lasting impairment.

The Ministry of Labour determined that the machine was not guarded as required to prevent worker access to the rollers and in-running nip hazards.

Bag to Earth Inc./Sac au Sol Inc. pleaded guilty to failing as an employer to ensure that the measures and procedures prescribed by law were carried out at a workplace, contrary to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.