Canada | Workplace injury results in $350,000 fine

June 16, 2025

Ontario Newsroom | A worker was critically injured as a result of a Linamar Corporation’s failure to ensure that the measures and procedures prescribed by section 45(a) of Ontario Regulation 851/90 were carried out at a workplace, contrary to section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

On the day of the incident, an acting supervisor directed a worker to perform a broach stick tool change at the company’s Independence Place facility. A broach stick is a tool used in precision machining to remove material from a workpiece. It typically consists of a long, toothed bar that progressively cuts into the material as it passes through or along it.

The worker used a jib crane equipped with clamping attachments to insert and remove broach sticks from a broaching machine. During this operation, a 460-pound broach stick fell from the crane and struck the worker, resulting in a critical injury.

A subsequent investigation by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development identified several contributing factors.

One key issue was that the crane controls were not functioning as designed by the manufacturer. This allowed the crane to lift a broach stick that was only partially engaged – meaning the crane’s clamp attachment was not fully closed – thereby compromising the secure handling of the heavy broach stick.

As a result, the defendant failed to ensure that the broach stick was lifted, carried or moved in a manner that did not endanger the safety of the worker, contrary to their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Following a guilty plea in Provincial Offences Court, Guelph, Linamar Corporation, carrying on business as Linamar Gear, was fined $350,000 with a 25% victim fine surcharge.

— Accurate at time of publication | June 2025

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