Petrolia-based Sof Surfaces has been fined $70,000 after an incident that saw a worker's foot get crushed by moving machinery.
Ontario's Labour Ministry says, in October 2013, workers were cleaning lids on a large carousel machine used to make rubberized tile at the plant on Discovery Line.
The investigation revealled the carousel was set in motion at the wrong time and came down on a worker's foot.
The temporary worker, placed at the company by an employment agency, had to have his foot surgically amputated.
The Labour Ministry says the equipment and presses were not blocked, de-energized, or locked out during the cleaning process. They also claim safety devices like interlock switches on the gates and light curtains were bypassed to allow the carousel to move while workers were in the fenced off area.
Sof Surfaces pleaded guilty to Occupational Health and Safety Act charges.
In addition to the $70,000 fine , the court imposed a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge that is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
