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Quebecor World Inc. fined $130,000 for Health and Safety violation
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NEWMARKET, ON, May 20 /CNW/ - Quebecor World Inc., a Montreal, Que.-based printing company with a facility in Aurora, Ont., was fined $130,000 today for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in serious leg injuries to an employee.

On July 10, 2003, a worker was inspecting a "compactor baler" (a machine that compacts paper waste product created during the printing process) for an oil leak when the baler's ram (a press that compacts the paper) unexpectedly cycled and caught the worker's legs. Just prior to the incident the worker had climbed onto the baler to determine the oil leak's location. The worker had then directed a second worker to push a manual cycle button to move the ram into a full reverse position to locate the leak. After the second worker complied and moved away from the control panel, the ram unexpectedly cycled. The first worker's legs were crushed and partially severed. The injured worker underwent a series of operations and was expected to make a near full recovery. The incident occurred at Quebecor World Inc.'s printing facility at 275 Wellington Street East in Aurora.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found the injured worker was given information and instruction on general lockout procedures, but was not given information and instruction on specific lockout procedures for the compactor baler. The procedures would have prevented the ram from moving and coming into contact with the worker's legs.

Quebecor World Inc. pleaded guilty, as an employer, to failing to provide information and instruction to the injured worker on lockout procedures for the compactor baler. This was contrary to Section 25(2)(a) of the act.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Karen Walker of the Ontario Court of Justice at Old City Hall in Newmarket. 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
465 Davis Drive, Courtroom T2
Newmarket, Ontario

Judge: Justice of the Peace Karen Walker

Date/Time: May 20, 2005, 1:30 p.m.
Defendant: Quebecor World Inc.
Matter: Occupational Health & Safety
www.gov.on.ca/lab/

For further information: Belinda Sutton, Ministry of Labour,
(416) 326-7405; Joe Ferraro, Crown Counsel, Legal Services Branch, Ministry of
Labour, (416) 326-7975
(submitted by Tony Moscioni)

[This message has been edited by Webmaster (edited 05-31-2005).]
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