Breadsource Corporation, an industrial bakery in Toronto, has been fined $57,000 following a workplace incident that left a temporary worker critically injured.
The conviction was handed down in Provincial Offences Court by Justice of the Peace Grace Lin, with Crown Counsel Daniel Kleiman representing the prosecution.
The offence occurred on July 15, 2022, at the company’s Scarborough facility. A worker, employed through a temporary help agency, suffered severe injuries while working on a bread conveyor belt. The machinery, featuring rotating rollers and gears, lacked the necessary guarding to prevent access to its dangerous pinch points, a violation under section 25 of Ontario Regulation 851, Industrial Establishments.
Following the guilty plea, in addition to the fine, a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge was imposed as mandated by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge contributes to a provincial fund designed to assist victims of crime.
In the wake of the accident, Breadsource Corporation has installed additional guarding on the conveyor to enhance safety and prevent further access to hazardous areas.
The case underscores the vital importance of adhering to workplace safety regulations and the serious consequences companies face when failing to ensure a safe environment for all workers.