Stelco Inc., a Hamilton-based steel manufacturing and processing company, has been fined $200,000 after pleading guilty to a workplace safety violation resulting in a fatal incident.
The Ontario Court of Justice delivered the verdict on February 26, 2024, with Judge George Gage presiding over the case.
The conviction stems from a tragic event on January 15, 2022, at the company’s facility located at 386 Wilcox Street, where a worker suffered fatal injuries associated with a conveyor belt accident. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s subsequent investigation found that Stelco Inc. failed to comply with the required safety measures prescribed under section 196(2)(a) of Ontario Regulation 854, Mines and Mining Plants, in breach of section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
According to case details, the victim, while working alone in the coal handling section, attempted to rectify a slippage issue with the conveyor belt by applying a can of belt dressing (adhesion spray) directly onto the moving belt and pulley system. Tragically, approximately three hours later, the worker was discovered injured by the conveyor, leading to unsuccessful resuscitation efforts.
Further investigation highlighted the absence of a safety guard that could have prevented access to the conveyor’s head end while in motion, a crucial safety measure that Stelco Inc. neglected.
In addition to the fine, Judge Gage imposed a 25 percent victim fine surcharge, mandated by the Provincial Offences Act, which contributes to a provincial fund assisting victims of crime. Crown Counsel Dan Phelan represented the prosecution during the proceedings.
In response to the incident, Stelco Inc. has reportedly enhanced its lone-worker policies and installed additional physical guards on machinery throughout its operations, aiming to prevent future occurrences of similar accidents.