Royal fined for safety violation (April 22, 2005)

Royal Plastics Ltd. was recently fined $130,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in the death of an employee at a warehouse in Concord. ON.
On July 10, 2003, a worker was preparing to transport heavy bags of plastic resin from a resin storage facility to a processing plant. The worker had been using a forklift truck to move the resin bags. The truck came into contact with the lower of one set of stacked bags and developed a leak. The worker got off the truck and placed a rag into the tear to prevent further spillage. Although there were no eyewitnesses, it is believed the tear in the lower bag caused the resin to drain and, as it drained, the heavy, full bag on top of it became unstable and fell distance of about 4 ft. onto the worker. The worker was found pinned partway under one of the 2,200 lb. bags and pronounced deceased at the scene.
Royal Plastics pleaded guilty, as an employer, to failing to provide information, instruction and supervision on safe procedures for handling, storing, moving, repairing and/or otherwise dealing with torn or ruptured bags of resin. This was contrary to Section 25(2) (a) of the Act.