Hamilton scrap metal company AIM fined $65,000 after load falls on worker

A Hamilton scrap metal company was fined $65,000 last month after part of a load of scrap metal fell on one of its employees in 2021 while they were trying to unload it from a trailer.

Provincial court Justice of the Peace Robert G. Munro issued the fine to American Iron & Metal Company, which goes by the acronym AIM, on May 18. The company had pleaded guilty toviolating the Occupational Health and Safety Act by "failing to provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker on the safe procedure for unloading the 40-foot dump trailer," according to a release issued by Ontario's Ministry of Labour on Monday.

AIM is a Montreal-based company that describes itself as "one of the most innovative recycling companies in the world." The location where the worker was injured is at 75 Steel City Ct., justnorth of Nikola Tesla Boulevard, west of Woodward Avenue.

According to the ministry, the driver was hurt on Dec. 10, 2021 while "transferring loads of scrap metal to a shredding pile at the company's scrap metal yard using a 40-foot dump trailer."

It says the driver hadn't been instructed on the company's proper procedure for unloading the trailer, which was for the driver to stand behind the trailer door and use it as a shield from debris that could fall when it was opened.

"After opening one of the rear doors, the driver opened the other rear door part way. The driver then moved to the inside of the door to open it the rest of the way," it says, noting the driver had worked there since 2020 but was in a new role and was still being trained.

"Information, instruction and supervision on this procedure had not yet been provided to the worker at the time of the incident," it states.

In addition to the $65,000 fine, the company must also pay a 25 per cent surcharge to help fund services for victims of crime.

CBC Hamilton called the company to ask about the workers' condition and whether it had changed any procedures because of the incident. It did not get a response by the time this article was published.