I recently read an article about how the Nova Scotia Department of Labour issued seven compliance orders against a metal works company in the province after a 24-year-old worker was seriously hurt.
The man was welding a 22-tonne piece of steel plate that was part of a girder for a bridge when a huge sheet that was held in place by jigs fell on the man and crushed his arm. Apparently, one or more of the jigs failed.
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Investigations began by both the department of labour and the police.
Initial reports were saying that the injuries were life-threatening. But after emergency surgery, the worker was stable and recovering.
The department’s compliance orders require the company to:
- Cease using the jigs until they have been inspected by an engineer
- Produce design documents and inspection reports for the jigs
- Produce a list of witnesses to the accident
- Reveal the injured man’s employment history
Interestingly, there were changes against this company in 2003, after metal plates fell on a different worker.
Time will tell as to what is found regarding the safety of the jigs, and whether proper safety procedures were followed in order to prevent injury…we will keep you posted.
Christina Catenacci
First Reference Human Resources and Compliance Editor
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