Employer Fined $55,000 after Weight Falls on Worker

A worker was operating a drop weight tester machine, which drops a steel weight onto a rock sample from various heights. The machine was supporting a weight of about 50 kg when a cable broke, causing the weight to fall. The worker’s hand was inside the machine at the time. He sustained cuts and bruising and had part of a finger amputated. An MOL engineering report concluded that the cable supporting the weight failed due to mechanical damage caused by the cable repeatedly moving over the sharp edge of the keeper. The employer pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the machine was maintained in good condition and was fined $55,000 [SGS Canada Inc., Govt. News Release, Dec. 22, 2014].