Industrial Crane Manufacturer Fined $125,000 After Worker Electrocuted

February 8, 2017

Konecranes Canada Inc., a company that services industrial cranes and lifting devices, pleaded guilty and was fined $125,000 for a July 2015 incident in which a worker was electrocuted.

On July 16, 2015, a Konecranes worker arrived at an auto parts manufacturer in Richmond Hill, Ontario to repair a 20-ton overhead gantry crane. The worker was later joined by a Konecranes manager who wanted to see the repairs.

To make the repairs, the worker and manager used a scissor lift. While in the lift, the manager received an electrical shock and subsequently died from the injury. The power source to the crane was rated at 600 volts.

A Ministry of Labour investigation determined that a Konecranes Canada Inc. worker did not follow the company’s energy isolation and verification procedures.

In addition to the $125,000, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge.