A brick company based in Brampton, Ontario, has been penalized with fines exceeding a quarter of a million dollars due to two significant workplace incidents, one of which resulted in a fatality.

The Ontario Ministry of Labour imposed a fine of $225,000 on Brampton Brick following a tragic incident at their manufacturing facility in Brampton in June 2023. During this incident, a worker was assisting in removing cement build-up from equipment and climbed onto a mud conveyor situated in the mixer area of the plant. Unbeknownst to the worker, a skip hoist—designed for lifting materials—was set to automatic mode, with its hoist bucket positioned overhead. When the hoist activated automatically, the bucket descended, leading to the worker's death.

In the aftermath of this incident, an investigation conducted by the Ministry revealed that the mixer area lacked adequate machine guarding, a critical safety measure intended to prevent such accidents. In provincial court, Brampton Brick pleaded guilty to the charges related to this tragic event and was subsequently fined $225,000. The court also imposed a 25 percent victim fine surcharge to support victims of crime.

A second workplace incident occurred in April 2023 at the company’s facility in Brockville, Ontario. In this incident, a worker sustained critical injuries while cleaning a mold utilized on a block machine. An investigation by the Ministry determined that a co-worker inadvertently manipulated two switches on the machine's control panel incorrectly, which led to these serious injuries.

The Ministry further assessed that while Brampton Brick had established procedures, training, and signage regarding safety practices, they inadequately provided essential information, instruction, and supervision to ensure the safe cleaning of the mold on the block machine. As a result, the company faced further consequences and pleaded guilty in provincial court to the charges stemming from this incident, resulting in a fine of $65,000. This penalty too was subject to a 25 percent victim fine surcharge.

These incidents highlight significant safety concerns within the workplace and emphasize the crucial need for robust safety practices and training in manufacturing environments. The penalties imposed on Brampton Brick reflect the serious nature of workplace safety violations and the legal responsibilities companies bear to protect their employees.