Home Hardware in St Jacobs has been fined $75,000 after a workplace injury.
On November 3rd, 2023 a worker was injured after falling from a ladder with Home Hardware failing to ensure the fixed stairs or an access ladder was provided where frequent access to elevated equipment was necessary.
A background of the day included;
- On November 3, 2023, a worker responsible for the fire management system was monitoring the water level in a reservoir in the basement of the company’s warehouse.
- The system included water pumps that operated weekly, causing the water level in the reservoir to go down and requiring it to be refilled manually.
- During the refilling process, the water level must be visually monitored to prevent an overflow flooding the basement and falsely activating a fire alarm.
- To access the top the reservoir, located approximately 10 feet above the ground, the worker used an aluminum shelf ladder. While climbing down the ladder, the worker slipped and fell, sustaining critical injuries.
St Jacobs Home Hardware pled guilty in court being fined $75,000 and given a 25 per cent victim surcharge.