A worker's hand was drawn into an unguarded conveyor belt at Terminal 1 baggage handling at Toronto Pearson International Airport, causing serious injuries. The guarding had been removed for routine maintenance and had not been reinstalled before the area was returned to operation.
What Happened
- The conveyor belt guard had been removed to facilitate maintenance work
- The guard was not reinstalled before workers resumed activity in the area
- No lockout/tagout procedure had been completed to verify the machine was safe before resuming operations
- No system was in place to track guard removals or confirm reinstallation before restart
- The supervisor on site was aware that maintenance had occurred in the area
The Outcome
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority was convicted under the OHSA and fined $300,000 plus the victim fine surcharge for failing to ensure machine guarding was maintained in place during and after maintenance activities.
Citation: 2017 ONCJ 516 · Penalty: $300,000
What This Case Teaches Ontario Employers
Machine guarding must be restored immediately after maintenance is completed — no exceptions. Supervisors cannot permit workers to resume work near moving parts until all guards have been physically verified as reinstalled and all energy isolation steps are confirmed complete. A tracking or permit system for guard removals is an essential element of an adequate guarding program.
This summary is drawn from the reported outcome of an Ontario occupational health and safety prosecution. It is provided for educational purposes and is not legal advice.