BND Woodworking Inc., a cabinet manufacturing company based in Guelph, Ont., has been fined $50,000 following a workplace accident that resulted in critical injuries to a worker.
The incident, which occurred on March 2, 2023, involved a saw blade and exposed a failure to maintain equipment as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The accident happened at the company’s workshop located at 1-66 Arrow Road, where a worker was using a general tilting arbor saw to cut cabinet drawers. According to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, both protective covers on the saw blade were not properly in place, creating a hazardous situation. The left saw blade cover was damaged, with a portion missing, while the right cover, although undamaged, was raised. This lack of protective guards resulted in the worker’s hand coming into contact with the blade during operation.
An investigation revealed that BND Woodworking Inc. had been waiting for replacement parts for the saw since June 2022 but failed to provide documentation proving the parts were ever ordered. The saw’s operation manual mandates that blade guards must be in place and functional. The Ministry determined that the company did not ensure the equipment was maintained in good condition, violating section 25(1)(b) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
On May 8, 2024, the Ontario Court of Justice in Guelph convicted BND Woodworking Inc. of the offense. The company pleaded guilty and was fined $50,000 by Justice of the Peace Jennifer Thompson. Crown Counsel Katie Krafchick represented the case. Additionally, the court imposed a 25 percent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. This surcharge is allocated to a special provincial fund that supports victims of crime.