Supervisor & Company Fined for Worker’s Serious Hand Injury

A worker’s right hand was crushed when the press portion of a concrete block machine activated unexpectedly. He had to have one finger surgically amputated. The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace, ensure that equipment was fitted with adequate safeguards and ensure that the energy source was isolated where the unexpected start-up of machinery could cause injury. The court fined it $21,000 and ordered it to contribute $2,000 to the Minister of Service NL. A supervisor also pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all workers under his supervision and was fined $2,000 [Atlantic Minerals Ltd., Govt. News Release, Dec. 18, 2013].