CBC Newsreported that Gerdau Ameristeel has pleaded guilty and been fined CAD 115,000 after two workers were critically injured at work in November 2018. According to Government of Ontario court bulletins “The two workers had been repairing a damaged hydraulic hose that needed replacing after a fire in the furnace at the Gerdau Ameristeel Whitby plant in Ontario in Canada. They were working underneath the edge of the furnace lid that was moved out of place so the workers could access the hydraulic hose. As the workers were removing the hydraulic hose, a large piece of slag became dislodged and fell about 15 feet, striking both workers. It was estimated that the slag weighed approximately 80 pounds. The two were extensively and critically injured from the falling slag and taken to Oshawa Lakeridge Hospital.”A Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills investigation determined that Gerdau Ameristeel failed to provide overhead protection to the two workers. Both the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Industrial Establishments Regulation requires employers to provide such protective measures.
CBC Newsreported that Gerdau Ameristeel has pleaded guilty and been fined CAD 115,000 after two workers were critically injured at work in November 2018. According to Government of Ontario court bulletins “The two workers had been repairing a damaged hydraulic hose that needed replacing after a fire in the furnace at the Gerdau Ameristeel Whitby plant in Ontario in Canada. They were working underneath the edge of the furnace lid that was moved out of place so the workers could access the hydraulic hose. As the workers were removing the hydraulic hose, a large piece of slag became dislodged and fell about 15 feet, striking both workers. It was estimated that the slag weighed approximately 80 pounds. The two were extensively and critically injured from the falling slag and taken to Oshawa Lakeridge Hospital.”A Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills investigation determined that Gerdau Ameristeel failed to provide overhead protection to the two workers. Both the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Industrial Establishments Regulation requires employers to provide such protective measures.
