A 36-year-old construction worker was operating a compactor machine in Calgary when the machine rolled over and crushed the man. The Global News reports that police claim the injured are “life-altering.”
The extent of the man’s injuries remains unknown, but police claim that he has suffered from multiple serious injuries.
Additional reports claim that the injuries are not life-threatening, but EMS transport claims that the man suffered severe injuries to his arms and legs.
The incident occurred on a reconstruction site on a public roadway. The man was a contractor and did not work for the city. Construction sites pose the greatest risk of injury of all occupations in the United States.
“On construction sites, ladders are one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment. Each year, more than 4,000 U.S. construction workers suffer serious injuries from ladder falls, and 70 workers die from their injuries,” claims Jason D. Mills & Associates.
Fines and penalties may follow if the construction company that contracted the worker is found to be in violation of safety requirements.
One man in Ontario tripped and fell into a machine that is used for bottle-making. He suffered from permanent injury. The company that operated the plant was fined $100,000 for not providing guards to prevent worker injuries.
Missing protective guards and devices have become a major issue in Canada. April saw many settlements for workers that sustained serious injury due to lack of proper safety rails and guards. Ontario Plants Propagation Ltd. suffered a $55,000 fine for not providing guards around a greenhouse robot.
Vinyl Window Designs Ltd. was fined $165,000 for a worker that was killed when trying to troubleshoot an issue with one of the company’s machines. There were no guards in place at the time of the incident.
The Ministry of Labour is now investigating whether or not a systematic analysis of guards or protective devices are causing workplace safety issues. The Ministry inspects each workplace actively on a case-by-case basis.
The Ontario budget is a major concern for worker safety. Employers will have less oversight and will instead have an online method to educate themselves on their responsibilities. A community legal worker claims that less oversight will only lead to further injuries and death.
Clinics that work on behalf of workers have also suffered a 30% cut in legal aid funding, making it more difficult for injured workers to receive benefits under the workers’ compensation system.
