Ottawa, Ont. - Pack All Manufacturing Inc., a producer of polystyrene products, was fined $55,000 on November 19, 2009, for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after a worker was injured.  Directors Micheal Abdulnour and Emile Abdulnour were also fined $5,000 each.

On July 21, 2007, at the company's plant in Clarence-Rockland, a young worker was trying to clear a jam of waste stuck in a hopper.  At the bottom of the hopper, two rollers fed the waste into a grinder below.  The worker reached into the hopper to push the jammed waste through the rollers and into the grinder.  The worker's hand was pulled in by the rollers, which caused severe injury to the worker's fingers.

Pack All Manufacturing Inc. was found guilty after trial of failing, as an employer, to ensure that the hopper was guarded to prevent access to its pinch point.  Directors Micheal Abdulnour and Emile Abdulnour were both found guilty of failing, as directors, to take all reasonable care in the circumstances.

The fines were imposed by Justice of the Peace Brian Mackey.  In addition to the fines, 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.

Court Information at a Glance

Location:                   

Ontario Court of Justice

100 Constellation Cres.

Ottawa, Ont.

Judge:                        

Justice of the Peace Brian Mackey

Date of Conviction:

November 19, 2009

Defendants:

Pack All Manufacturing Inc.

Micheal Abdulnour

Emile Abdulnour

Matter:

Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:

Ontario Regulation 851/90, Section 25

Crown Counsel:

Linda Chen