Employer Fined $15,000 after Worker’s Pants Catch Fire

While using a hand grinder, a worker’s pants caught fire, causing significant injury. An investigation found that while installing a work platform the previous day, the worker’s pants were exposed to sodium chlorate. Sparks from the hand grinder ignited the sodium chlorate on his pants. The employer pleaded guilty to failing to implement safe work procedures for installing a work platform above sodium chlorate dryers and was fined $15,000 [Glendale Industries Ltd., Govt. News Release, April 28, 2016].