GUELPH— Thanks to a broken latch on a livestock gate, a Western-Ontario abattoir was fined $75,000 after an employee was critically injured by a charging steer.
Peel Meat Packers Ltd. pleaded guilty Nov. 15 to violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act because a broken latch prevented a gate from locking, allowing a castrated bull to knock the gate open and run down the worker at the company’s holding barn facility.
Until then, the day was running smoothly. A farmer arrived at the facility on June 14, 2022 to deliver the steer and was welcomed by the worker. When the farmer opened the trailer door the steer charged out toward a chute. The farmer quickly pulled one livestock gate closed in front of him. The steer barreled toward another gate pounding the employee, who was critically injured. That aisle was supposed to be protected by a self-closing gate, but a broken spring prevented the gate latch from catching the railing.
The company implemented several health and safety measures ordered by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development following an investigation.
In Guelph court, Justice of the Peace Michael Cuthbertson ordered the meat packer to pay a $60,000 fine and an additional $15,000 victim surcharge.
Source : Farmersforum