A temporary foreign worker’s injury resulted in a staffing firm and buyer in Southwestern Ontario being fined, according to the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

West End Mfg. Inc. was fined C$55,000 (US$40,462) on March 26 for the incident that happened on May 25, 2023, according to the ministry. The staffing firm, Liiman Employment Inc., was fined C$75,000 (US$55,175).

The incident happened at a powder coating facility in Listowel, Ontario, which is owned by West End Mfg., according to the ministry.

The facility has a paint shop with booths for sandblasting, powder coating and baking metal. In the sandblasting booth, there is an auger system that collects sand particles in a trough in the floor. The troughs have metal grates to prevent access to augers. However, one of the metal bars covering the trough was damaged beyond repair and removed on May 24, 2023. This left a hazardous gap in the floor, according to the ministry.

The temporary worker stepped through the gap and became caught in the moving auger and suffered serious injuries, according to the ministry.

SIA has reached out to Liiman and West End Mfg. for comment.