Goodyear EP plant in Canada fined $60k for health and safety violation

Whitby, Ontario, Canada - Goodyear Canada Inc., a Toronto-based manufacturer and processor of conveyor belts, with a former plant in Bowmanville, Ontario, was fined $60 000 (€45 000) on 30 May, 2007 for a violation of the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in a finger injury to an employee.

A statement from the Canadian Labour Ministry said, "On June 21, 2005, a worker was cutting and pulling away rubber from a roller on a mill when one of the worker's gloves got caught on "rubber stock" (a supply of rubber). The worker's glove was pulled into the mill machine towards a "pinch point" (a point created where the mill gate came in contact with the roller). The worker stopped the mill machine using an emergency stop button and was able to pull back the hand from the rubber stock, but suffered a loss of skin on the right thumb. The incident occurred at the company's plant at 45 Raynes Avenue in Bowmanville."

A Ministry of Labour investigation found one of the factors that contributed to the incident was a lack of adequate protection to prevent access to the mill machine's pinch point.

Goodyear Canada Inc. pleaded guilty, as an employer, to failing to ensure an in-running nip hazard on the mill machine that endangered the safety of the worker was equipped with, and guarded by, a guard or other device that prevented access to the pinch point, as required by Section 25 of the Regulations for Industrial Establishments. This was contrary to Section 25(1)(c) of the act.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Dolly Mecoy of the Ontario Court of Justice in Whitby. In addition, 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.

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Press releasefrom Canadian Labour Ministry