St. Catharines, Ont. - Bon Ferro Inc., a St. Catharines manufacturer of metal furniture, staircases, gates and railings, was fined $90,000 today for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after a worker was killed.

On December 1, 2007, a welder was setting up a punch press for a new job, when a piece of the punch apparatus broke off as the worker cycled the press. The shattered piece of metal hit the welder in the neck. The welder was rushed to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the worker was cycling the press in the wrong mode, and he had not received training for the type of press he was using that day.

After trial, Bon Ferro Inc. was convicted of failing, as an employer, to provide information, instruction and supervision to the worker on the safe operation of the punch press.

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Donna Cowan. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge on the total, as required by the Provincial Offences Act.  The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime

Court Information at a Glance

Location:                    Ontario Court of Justice

                                    59 Church St.

                                    St. Catharines, ON

Judge:                        

Justice of the Peace Donna Cowan

Date of Conviction:

July 17, 2009

Defendants:

Bon Ferro Inc.

Matter:                     

Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:                

OHSA, Section 25(2)(a)

Crown Counsel:

Alexandra Bednar