A Niagara-on-the-Lake aviation parts manufacturer has been fined $60,000 after a workplace safety violation led to a worker permanently losing vision in one eye.
Genaire Limited pleaded guilty on December 4 to breaching the Occupational Health and Safety Act by failing to ensure an employee received proper training to safely use, store, handle, and dispose of a hazardous product. The conviction was announced by the Ministry of Labour on January 20 following proceedings in provincial court in Welland.
The incident occurred in July 2023 after an apprentice, who had worked at the company since 2019 and was not originally hired to paint, was asked to take on painting duties. Despite requesting training, the worker did not receive instruction on handling hazardous paint materials.
While using chemical agent resistant coatings paint and an activator, the worker stored a mixed product in a sealed can, unaware it needed to be used or discarded within hours. The mixture caused pressure to build inside the container, and when the worker opened it days later, the lid forcefully struck his face. Although he was wearing safety glasses, the impact caused permanent vision loss in his left eye.
A Ministry of Labour investigation concluded the company failed to provide required safety instruction. Genaire, which employs 19 people and has operated since 1951, had no prior convictions and entered a guilty plea. The company also retained the injured worker and took steps to address safety issues.
Along with the fine, Genaire must pay a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge to a provincial fund that supports victims of crime.