September 20, 2013 – Bombardier Transportation Canada Inc. recently pleaded guilty to failing as an employer to ensure a worker used the protective equipment prescribed by law to keep him safe from electrical injury, and was fined $140,000 plus a 25% victim fine surcharge.

In July 2012, at Bombardier’s production facility in Thunder Bay, Ont., a worker was injured after coming into contact with a live electrical conductor. The young worker—who was also a relatively new employee—was checking the electrical current of an electrical conductor in a passenger rail car.

The worker reached into an electrical cabinet to clamp an ammeter to verify whether it had an electrical current, and inadvertently touched a live terminal strip. He was not wearing any rubber gloves nor using any protective equipment, which is required by the Occupational Health & Safety Act. The worker suffered injuries to an arm and hand.

A Ministry of Labour investigation revealed the terminal block was energized and the worker was not provided with any instructions about the use of personal protective equipment.