Serious Injuries to Worker Felling a Tree Result in $65,000 Fine & Probation

A chainsaw operator was cutting down a tree when it fell and struck another tree. The second tree broke and fell, striking the operator. Although the operator’s co-worker called for assistance, due to the remote location, it took about five hours to get him to the hospital. He suffered serious injuries. The employer was convicted of safety violations, including failing to ensure that a worker felling a tree made a correct notch at the butt of the tree. The court fined it $65,000 fine and sentenced it to 18 months of corporate probation [Lignin Industries Ltd., Govt. News Release, Feb. 2, 2017].