Employer must also pay 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge
The death of a migrant farm worker has resulted in a fine of $82,500 to a potato farm after worker was crushed by a potato hopper assembly.
On May 27, 2013, several workers were running the seed potato cutting line on RJM Farms, near Barrie, Ontario where they were required to remove a conveyor from the line and replace it with a potato hopper to process seed potatoes.
When workers realized the potato hopper was not high enough to reach the conveyor they used bottle jacks to raise the container-frame assembly.
Worker died immediately when the assembly suddenly fell, crushing him.
An investigation by the Ministry of Labour found that the hopper container-frame assembly was raised beyond the height of the anchor posts of the wheel-and-axle assembly. In addition, the hopper's wheels were not chocked, nor was the elevated hopper container frame assembly blocked securely and solidly to prevent it from accidentally falling.
RJM Farms Inc. pleaded guilty to failing as an employer to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.
In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge to assist victims of crime.
