Mississauga – A Mississauga-based aluminum manufacturing company, Alugard Ltd., has been fined $100,000 after a serious workplace incident resulted in a worker injury and multiple violations of Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The incident occurred on October 3, 2022, at the company’s Matheson Boulevard location. A worker was injured while troubleshooting a Pro-Line door jamb processing centre, a machine used to fabricate aluminum window jambs. The Ministry of Labour found that the machine’s safety mechanisms had been disabled and its moving parts left unblocked. As the worker used compressed air to clear debris, the machine suddenly activated, causing injury.
Following an investigation, the Ministry of Labour determined that Alugard Ltd. had failed to:
- Properly lock out and block the machine during maintenance;
- Prevent the machine from starting while work was in progress;
- Submit a written notice of the incident as ordered;
- Refrain from tampering with the machine’s safety devices after the incident;
- Cooperate fully with the investigation.
In February 2025, the company pleaded guilty in Provincial Offences Court in Mississauga. In addition to the $100,000 fine, a 25% victim fine surcharge was also applied, as mandated by the Provincial Offences Act, to support the province’s Victims’ Justice Fund.
The case highlights the importance of strict adherence to occupational health and safety standards, particularly in high-risk industrial settings.