2006-09-11 Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada fined $75,000 for Health and Safety violation

Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada, a Montreal-based manufacturer of paper and wood products, was fined $75,000 yesterday for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in a fractured leg to a worker. This occurred at Abitibi-Consolidated's paper mill in Kenora, Ontario.
On March 16, 2005, a worker was operating a pallet truck in order to move a cutting device. When the pallet truck stalled on a ramp, another worker attempted to push it up the ramp with a fork lift. The driver of the pallet truck lost control and a handle used to operate the truck swung around pinning the worker's leg against a battery pack case on the truck. This resulted in a fracture to the left leg of the worker.
A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the method used to move the pallet truck did not follow the manufacturer's recommended procedure, and that the worker driving the pallet truck was not properly trained to operate it.
Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada pleaded guilty, as an employer, to failing to provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker, as required by Section 25(2)(a) of the act.
The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Joseph Morrison of the Ontario Court of Justice in Kenora. 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.