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Salvage company fined after worker injured on old mill site

A demolition and salvage company has been fined $55,000 after a worker fell and suffered fractures while removing equipment from a decommissioned mill on Strathcona Avenue in Thunder Bay, Ont.

The numbered company, 6322093 Manitoba Inc., operating as Global Recycling & Recovery, has pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred on Dec. 17, 2013.
The company was contracted to dismantle and remove assets from the former mill site.
At the time of the incident, a worker was on the third floor of the mill and removing equipment by pushing it through an open hatchway. The equipment then fall to the floor below to be taken away. While pushing a large metal cabinet weighing approximately 150 pounds, the worker’s glove became caught in the cabinet and the worker was pulled over the edge of the hatchway. The worker fell about 5.84 metres and suffered numerous fractures.
A Ministry of Labour investigation that took place the same day determined that the workers were not protected by any means of fall protection while exposed to a fall hazard of more than three metres. This is contrary to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Ontario Regulation 213/91 (the Construction Projects Regulation).
The $55,000 fine was imposed in Thunder Bay court on September 11. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act.