Problem
Ajay, a young worker was operating a die cut machine, on the production line processing dough for naan bread. As he was operating the machine, Ajay noticed that the dough on the conveyor was getting stuck and reached into the machine to adjust the dough. As he reached in to the machine, he received a crushing injury caused by a moving part of the machine.
An investigation found the die cut machine was not equipped with a device which would prevent the worker from accessing the moving parts described above. The worker had been providing basic training to operate the machine and had just started working with the company.
The company was fined $75,000 for violating Section 24 of OHSA. Section 24 of Ontario Regulation 851 (the Regulation for Industrial Establishments) requires a machine to be equipped with a guard or other device to prevent access to moving parts of the machine that may endanger the safety of a worker.
The company had a previous conviction under the same legislation dating and was fined $70,000 after a worker was trapped and injured by a dough machine at the same workplace.
1. New and young workers in Ontario are four times more likely to be injured than other workers, particularly during the first month of employment. Discuss the implications of this statement for the employer and what they must do to avoid a young worker from getting injured at work.
2. Explain ten controls the company should put in place to address the causes / hazards you have identified to prevent such an incident from occurring again. Your answer must be specific to the issues identified in the case.