UoGuelph fined for workplace injury in 2021 incident

The University of Guelph has been fined $50K for a 2021 incident where a worker sustained serious injuries while unloading a university-owned truck. The worker was reportedly using a mechanical liftgate and a manually operated “pump truck” to unload pallets from the truck when the pump truck rolled forward. The worker sustained injuries when they jumped from the liftgate to avoid being struck. ON states that the worker indicated they “had not been given sufficient instruction on how to safely get the pump truck and pallet onto the liftgate.” The university pled guilty to violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act after failing “as an employer, to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the health and safety of the worker.” The court also imposed a 25% victim fine surcharge.