Canadian company Coldstream Concrete has been fined CAD75,000 (USD55,625) over a forkplace accident that left a worker with critical injuries.

The accident happened in July 2022 at Coldstream Concrete’s facility in Ilderton, Ontario.

On the day of the incident a worker was operating various lifting devices to move concrete products in and out of a casting area inside the company’s main building.

After delivering a product to the casting area, the worker began driving the forklift to an outdoor yard to collect another piece.

While approaching a ramp that led to the main building, the forklift collided with a front-end loader travelling down the ramp.

The collision resulted in critical injuries to the forklift operator.

A Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development investigation determined that the incident could have been avoided had the company used a traffic management plan.

Coldstream Concrete pleaded guilty to breaching the Occupational Health and Safety Act in the Provincial Offences Court in London, Ontario.

The court imposed a fine of CAD75,000 as well as a 25% victim surcharge fine, as required by Canada’s Provincial Offences Act.