Hazard Alert

Logging Company Fined for Safety Violations

A logging company was fined $70,000 and a supervisor was fined $7000 on November 22 2005 for one violation each of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in serious injuries to a young employee.

On November 22 2002, a worker was using a chain saw to cut large branches off trees when a second worker swung a mechanical delimber (a machine that removes and cuts branched from trees) towards the first worker. The delimber was in the process of being used to move a large poplar tree. The first worker was struck in the back by the tree and propelled forward into a pile of trees. The first worker suffered serious facial injuries. It was the injured worker’s first day on the job. The accident ocurred at a logging camp.

Following the trial, the company was found guilty of failing to ensure the delimber operator and,/or the chain saw operator were adequately trained and/or supervised to maintain a safety zone around the delimber. This was contrary to Section 25(2)(c) of the act.

In addition, a supervisor was found guilty of failing to take the reasonable precaution of ensuring the injured worker was properly trained and/or supervised before startling to work in proximity to the delimber. This was contrary to Section 27(2)(c) of the act.