Hurricane Industrial Equipment has been finedA Nova Scotia company has been fined CAD10,000 (USD7,450) for a workplace accident involving a forklift mast falling on a service technician, Saltwire Network reports.
The Hurricane Industrial Equipment employee was performing maintenance repairs to a 15,000 lb. (6,803 kg) forklift at a property in Chamberlains, Ontario, when the accident occurred.
The technician suffered a partial hand amputation and a crushed chest.
In a provincial court in St. John’s, Hurricane Industrial pled guilty to two violations of the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Crown withdrew six other charges.
The employer’s legal council told the court the incident wasn’t the result of a flagrant disregard for safety or any intentional conduct.
The defence detailed changes the company has made since the accident, including an improved inspection regime and the development of a mobile training app that provides lessons on safe workplace practices and other topics.
Established in 1989, Hurricane specialises in sales, leases, rentals, parts and service of new and refurbished forklifts and other industrial equipment.