BRAMPTON, ON, May 2 /CNW/ - Norampac Inc., a manufacturer of corrugated container products with a linerboard mill in Mississauga, was fined $140,000 today for two violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in serious injuries to an employee.

On August 31, 2004, a worker was manually feeding paper into a machine used in the production of linerboard for cardboard boxes when the worker's left hand was drawn into a "pinch point" (a point created during the feeding of the paper into a spool). The worker was pulled into the spool up to the shoulder before the machine automatically shut down. The worker suffered multiple injuries, including second degree burns to the upper left arm and upper left thigh, a punctured lung, fractured bones and bruising. At the time of the incident the worker was attempting to clear a paper jam in the machine.

The worker was freed by a second worker who had to use a crane to lift the spool. The incident occurred at the company's mill at 7447 Bramalea Road in Mississauga, Ont.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that a third worker, who was at a control panel, had activated the machine in "jog" mode while the first worker started to manually feed the paper. This was part of the company's usual procedure for clearing paper jams. However, it was difficult from the third worker's vantage point to see the first worker. This made it difficult for the third worker to know when it was safe to start the machine. In addition, verbal communication between the workers was limited because of a high noise level at the mill. As a result, the workers relied on visual communications to indicate when the machine could be activated in "jog" mode.

Norampac Inc. pleaded guilty, as an employer, to:
1. Failing to ensure the machine was equipped with an automated start-up warning device, as required by Section 33 of the Regulations for Industrial Establishments. This was contrary to Section 25(1)(a) of the act; and
2. Failing to ensure an in-running nip hazard on the machine that endangered the safety of the workers was equipped with, and guarded by, a guard or other device that prevented access to the pinch point, as required by Section 25 of the Regulations for Industrial Establishments. This was contrary to Section 25(1)(a) of the act.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace John Farnum of the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton. In addition, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
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Court Information at a Glance
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Location: Ontario Court of Justice
5 Ray Lawson Boulevard, Courtroom B2
Brampton, Ontario
Judge: Justice of the Peace John Farnum
Date/Time: May 2, 2006, 9 a.m.
Defendant: Norampac Inc.
Matter: Occupational Health & Safety
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Disponible en francais www.labour.gov.on.ca
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For further information: Belinda Sutton, Ministry of Labour, (416) 326-7405;
Dan Kleiman, Crown Counsel, Legal Services Branch, Ministry of Labour, (416) 326-7584