A worker was assigned to paint aviation parts with a hazardous isocyanate-based paint mixture. They asked for training first. None was provided. They painted on July 14, 2023, and stored leftover mixture in a sealed container at the end of the day, intending to reuse it.
They didn't know that Ontario Regulation 860 requires isocyanate mixtures to be used within four hours. No one had told them. Pressure built up in the container over several days. On July 17, 2023, when the worker opened it, the lid flew off and caused serious injuries.
What Happened
Genaire Limited operates an aviation parts manufacturing facility in Niagara-on-the-Lake. A worker who normally assisted with production was asked to fill in for painting duties — using a hazardous mixture that included isocyanates, a designated substance under Ontario Regulation 860.
The worker requested training before starting. The company did not provide it. The worker began painting on July 14, 2023. At the end of the day, with leftover mixture remaining, they sealed the container and left it in the paint booth.
Ontario Regulation 860 is clear: isocyanate mixtures must be used within four hours. Any leftover must be safely disposed of. Sealing and storing the mixture allows pressure to build up in the container. When the worker came back and tried to open it on July 17, 2023, the container lid ejected with force, striking the worker and causing serious injuries.
The Ministry found that the worker had received no training on isocyanate handling requirements. They were assigned to a task involving a designated substance and were expected to comply with a regulation they'd never heard of. Genaire pleaded guilty in Welland Provincial Offences Court and was fined $60,000 plus a 25% victim fine surcharge.
What the Law Says
Ontario Regulation 860 (Designated Substance — Isocyanates) requires employers to ensure that workers handling isocyanates are trained on the specific requirements of the regulation before they begin work with the substance. Section 25(1)(c) of the OHSA requires employers to ensure that those prescribed measures are carried out.
Basically, what this means is simple: if it's a designated substance, the training comes first. Not after the first shift. First.
Three Things This Case Teaches Ontario Industrial Employers
- Isocyanates are a designated substance — a higher-hazard category that requires specific training before a worker touches them. General WHMIS training is not sufficient. Workers must be trained on Ontario Regulation 860 specifically.
- The four-hour use rule is a regulatory requirement, not a label recommendation. Workers who don't know about it will store leftover mixture. Sealed containers build pressure. The outcome is foreseeable.
- When a worker requests training before a new hazardous task, that request is a legal obligation trigger. Proceeding without providing training is a direct violation — and every subsequent injury that follows is foreseeable.
If your facility uses isocyanate-based paints, adhesives, coatings, or foam materials, review your designated substance training program. The full analysis, including supervisor and employer checklists, is in the WorkSafe Sounds article linked above.