Dare Foods: Snack Maker Fined $50K after Worker Injured by Conveyor

June 12, 2017 An Ontario judge issued fines of CN $67,500, or about $50,220 USD, to snack manufacturing firm Dare Foods Limited on June 9 after pleading guilty to occupational safety law violations stemming from the injury of a worker on an overhead conveyor system, the Ontario Ministry of Labour announced via press release.On March 1, 2016, a newly-hired worker at Dare Foods' Kitchner, ON snack manufacturing plant was cleaning a buildup of cookie crumbs from overhead conveyors and stainless-steel belt rollers on a mobile ladder platform when they were pulled into an in-running nip hazard on the rollers. The worker, who had started working at the plant on January 26, was working their first shift without a "buddy trainer" present.The court found that the company failed to comply with section 25 of the province's Industrial Establishments Regulation (Regulation 851), which mandates "an in-running nip hazard or any part of machine, device, or thing that may endanger the safety of any worker shall be equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevents access to the pinch point."A 25% victim surcharge was also ordered by the Ontario court to assist victims of crime."New and young workers in Ontario are more likely to be injured during the first few months on the job than other workers, and are three times more likely to be injured during their first month on the job," the province's Ministry of Labour said in a statement.Dare Foods' Kitchener plant produces snacks like cookies and crackers.For more articles, news, and equipment reviews, visit our Equipment Zones