Duct Falls on & Injures Worker, Leading to $70,000 Fine

Workers were removing equipment at a decommissioned foundry. One piece of equipment was positioned under, and attached to, an overhead duct. As a worker detached the equipment from the duct, the duct broke and fell on another worker who was walking underneath it. He suffered a fractured skull, several broken bones and internal injuries. The company was found guilty of failing to ensure that the overhead duct was adequately supported while the equipment was being removed. The court fined it $70,000 [Rassaun Steel & Mfg. Co. Ltd., Govt. News Release, March 30, 2012].