Cascades Canada ULC Fined $80,000 After Worker Injured

September 19, 2012 3:10 PM

Toronto, ON - Cascades Canada ULC, a multinational packaging and tissue company operating as Cascade Tissue Group - Toronto, was fined $80,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured. 

On June 24, 2011, at the company's facility in Toronto, a worker returning to the receiving area from break was struck by a forklift carrying a large roll of paper. The worker's leg was injured. The worker was not wearing a safety vest and there were no barriers in the receiving area to protect workers from forklift traffic. Furthermore, the only sign warning of vehicular traffic was posted at the plant's gatehouse lobby.

Cascades Canada ULC operating as Cascade Tissue Group - Toronto pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that materials were transported in a way and with appropriate precautions to protect the safety of a worker.  

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Ronald Johnston. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Court Information at a Glance
Location:                    Ontario Court of Justice
                                    70 Centre Ave.
                                    Toronto, ON
Judge:                         Justice of the Peace Ronald Johnston
Date of Sentencing:    September 13, 2012
Defendants:                Cascades Canada ULC operating as Cascade Tissue Group - Toronto
Matter:                        Occupational Health and Safety
Convictions:                Ontario Regulation 851, Section 45(a)
Crown Counsel:          Jason Tam

Ontario Enhancing Enforcement to Protect Workers

Ministry of Labour Increases Proactive Employment Standards Inspections

• Issued: September 17, 2012

NEWS

Ontario will help ensure fairness in the workplace by enhancing the enforcement of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), including the hiring of additional officers and staff.

The enhanced enforcement will include more proactive inspections. These inspections encourage workplace parties to comply with the ESA before serious violations arise and complaints are filed. Complaints can be costly and time-consuming for businesses. An initial $3 million, two-year investment will allow for 18 additional Employment Standards Officers and staff.

The inspections are also aimed at educating employers and employees about their rights and responsibilities under the ESA, which sets minimum standards for entitlements such as wages, hours of work and public holidays.

The ministry is committed to protecting vulnerable workers, meeting the needs of a changing workforce and helping employers understand their responsibilities. Protecting workers is part of the McGuinty government’s continued commitment to ensuring a strong economy and that all Ontarians are treated fairly.

QUICK FACTS

• Since 2004, the ministry’s Employment Standards Program has recovered more than $90 million in wages and other monies owed to employees through inspections, claims and collections.
• The Employment Standards Information Centre (1-800-531-5551) provides service in 23 languages – from Arabic to Vietnamese.

LEARN MORE

Learn more about Ontario’s employment standards, along with resources, tools and calculators for employees and employers.

Bill Killorn, Minister’s Office, 416-326-7708
Matt Blajer, Communications Branch, 416-326-7405

ontario.ca/labour-news
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TKPL & Associates Ltd. Fined $80,000 After Worker Killed

September 14, 2012 2:35 PM

Parry Sound, ON - TKPL & Associates Ltd., operator of a grocery store in Sundridge, ON, was fined $80,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was killed.

On February 4, 2011, a worker at the grocery store was arranging items on shelves while standing on a stepladder. To reach the top shelf, the worker had to stand on the top cap of the ladder, which was not intended as a step. While working from the top cap the worker lost balance and fell to the floor, suffering a fatal head injury.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that it was common practice in the store for workers to stand on the top cap of this type of stepladder to reach shelves. However the stepladder was not appropriate equipment for the task given the workers' need to stand on the top cap.

TKPL & Associates Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing to take the reasonable precaution of providing appropriate equipment to reach shelves for the protection of a worker.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Marcel Bedard. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.