Farm Fined $18,000 For Not Following Auger Manufacturer’s Instructions

A worker at a small family farm was sweeping soy beans into a dryer bin, which used two augers to move the beans into the centre of the bin. One end of the sweep auger located on the bin’s floor was fixed in the centre and the other end moved in an arc across the floor, moving the soy beans to the center. As it rotated, the worker’s clothing got caught in the auger and he was thrown forward into its path. One leg was caught under the auger, causing a laceration and soft tissue damage. According to the auger’s operating manual, no one should enter the bin unless the power to the sweep auger is disconnected and locked out. The farm pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation of the auger were complied with and was fined $18,000 [Willow Hawk Farms Inc., Govt. News Release, July 30, 2014].