Food manufacturer Select Food Products was issued a fine of CAD$50,000, or about $40,000, for an equipment-related injury that occurred at its Toronto, ON plant in 2019, the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development announced in a recent release.

On April 17, 2019, a worker at Select Food Products’ sauces and condiments facility was injured by a labeler machine on a salad dressing line while they were attempting to remove a label that had become stuck to the equipment. Officials said the labeler machine lacked a legally required guard to prevent access to pinch points.

The machine had a safety bypass switch that enabled operators to bypass the interlocking devices for the hinged access doors, permitting access to hazardous moving parts and pinch points. When the incident occurred, the switch was in the “safety off” position and the worker reached in the machine to free the jammed label from the gluing pallet. The worker was injured in a pinch point between the gluing pallet and the glue roller.

An investigation revealed that the company violated section 25 of Ontario Regulation 851 (the Industrial Establishments Regulation) by not to equipping the machine with a guard.

Select Food Products entered a guilty plea in provincial offences court in Toronto and was convicted on February 24, 2021. In addition to the fine, the company was also ordered to pay a 25% victim fine surcharge that is required by the Provincial Offences Act.

The company has manufactured sauces and condiments for more than 75 years, according to its website.