Two companies fined after workers lose fingers

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This article was published 14/11/2018 (1983 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two workers lost fingers on the job and two Manitoba companies were ordered to pay more than $110,000 in fines under the Workplace Safety and Health Act for having unsafe workspaces and, in one case, failing to report injuries, the province said Thursday.

Winkler-based Prinsco Canada Inc. was fined $54,252 after a worker had fingers crushed and amputated at work on April 12, 2016.

The province said in a news release the worker was told to install rubber trim on the sharp edges of a resin mixer. The mixer was still in operation and it had unguarded, moving parts that continued to rotate. The worker’s hand was caught in the rotating chain and sprocket.

“Despite being legally required to do so, the employer did not notify WSH of the incident,” the release said.

The company pleaded guilty in September to the charge of failing to ensure adequate safeguards for machines and for failing to notify WSH immediately about the serious incident.

A worker with AP Infrastructure Solutions GP Inc. (formerly Armtec GP Inc.) had to have all five digits amputated from one hand after it became pinched between rollers when the worker was rolling a metal pipe coupler on Sept. 15, 2015.

The company pleaded guilty last month to failing to ensure adequate safeguards for its machines. It was ordered to pay $47,500 in fines, as well as pay an additional $10,000 to the Workplace Safety and Health Education Fund.