Sun-Brite Foods Inc. will have to pay a $70,000 fine after a seasonal worker had to have part of his foot amputated after it got caught in an auger.
The worker was cleaning around a machine in the peeler room at the company's food processing plant at 1532 County Rd. 34 near Ruthven. The room houses tomato-peeling machines and each one has a waste shute connected to a trough. A power screw auger pushes waste material through the trough.
The Ministry of Labour investigated the accident and discovered a guard over the peeler machine's waste trough wasn't installed.
Sun-Brite pled guilty to a charge of failing to ensure measures and procedures prescribed by regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The company will also have to pay a 25% victim fine surcharge that will be added to a special provincial government fund to help the victims of crime.
