A University of Guelph worker was injured while unloading a pallet of soil in 2021, leading to last week’s conviction under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The school was found guilty of failing to take “every precaution reasonable” to prevent the worker’s injury and fined $50,000.
The injury occurred in May of 2021. As explained in a court bulletin released by the provincial government, a U of G employee was hurt while unloading pallets of soil from a truck at the university’s campus.
While attempting to reach the control mechanism of a mechanical liftgate attached to a university-owned truck, a pallet rolled forward. In order to avoid being struck, the worker jumped off the liftgate and landed on the ground, sustaining “serious injuries.”
A subsequent investigation by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development determined the liftgate guidelines directed that a pump truck was used improperly, with the worker telling investigators they hadn’t been given sufficient instruction on how to safely perform the task.
