Machines: Plywood Manufacturer Fined $547,000 for Failing to Prevent Machine Injuries

A plywood manufacturer was on the receiving end of the largest administrative monetary penalty for OHS violations in BC in 2021 (reported so far). The $547,080 penalty was for a series of repeat and high-risk violations stemming from an incident where a worker got caught in a press machine. In addition to the absence of a guarding mechanism, WorkSafeBC found that the victim was out of the sight of the press operator when the machine was activated and that the company’s work practices didn’t adequately address this risk [Richmond Plywood Corporation Limited].