Evraz fined over half-a-million dollars for Regina OHS violation

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After a worker was badly injured at its Regina facility, Evraz Inc. NA Canada has been fined $575,000 for a violation of Saskatchewan’s workplace safety regulations.

That news was shared Thursday through a news release from the provincial government, which indicates the company pleaded guilty in Regina provincial court on April 29 to a charge of failing to provide an effective safeguard when a worker may contact a dangerous part of a moving machine.

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The violation falls under The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020.

A court document indicates that on December 4, 2022, an employee was working with a machine used to split coiled steel into sections to be made into pipe. The worker “suffered serious injuries while inspecting the underside of sheet metal as it was being mechanically moved through the metal slitting machine,” adds the government release.

At that time, workers would inspect the steel from underneath in order to document imperfections for customers. The court file indicates that while there were cameras tested for this purpose, the quality of video was deemed to be insufficient.

According to further information from the court file, the incident occurred when the worker was walking backward and tripped over a fan being used in the area.

“He reflexively reached up and his hand went into the machine,” the court document states.

It goes on to note there was no safeguard under the machine and therefore the worker’s hand and forearm became trapped between a roller and steel plate. He was able to hit an emergency stop button to halt the machine with his free arm.

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The court document indicates the worker was taken to hospital, where it was determined that none of his bones were broken. However, he eventually underwent multiple surgeries, including skin reconstruction.

He has since returned to work on full duties, according to the document.

The court file also contains information about measures the company took following the incident, including some $590,000 worth of safety improvements at the Regina facility.

This includes, among other things, installing cameras in the area where inspection of steel is required and a locking access door to prevent workers from being in the area during operation of the machine.

bharder@postmedia.com

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