Guarding Violation Results in $65,000 Fine for Vegetable Processing Plant

A worker at a vegetable processing plant was cleaning a machine, which had a waste chute that contained a rotating vane to control the rate of debris falling onto a conveyor. He noticed debris in this part and reached his hand up through the bottom of the chute to clean the area. The machine didn’t have a guard to prevent access to a pinch point and his arm got trapped and injured. At trial, the plant was convicted of a guarding violation and fined $65,000 [Bonduelle Ontario Inc., Govt. News Release, Jan. 29, 2013].