HAWKSVILLE, ONT. — AMI Attachments Inc., a heavy equipment manufacturer based in Hawksville, Ontario, has been hit with a $65,000 fine after a worker sustained serious injuries while operating a magnetic lifting device on February 15, 2024.
According to a bulletin from the Ontario court, the incident occurred while a young employee was moving steel components from the receiving area to nearby storage blocks. Workers typically use an overhead bridge crane fitted with either chains, straps, or magnetic lifts, depending on their own judgment and prior experience.
In this case, the worker opted for a magnetic lifting device attached to a chain suspended from the crane to lift a square steel tube weighing 682 pounds and measuring half an inch thick. While the worker stood between two steel storage racks, the steel tube became detached from the magnet and fell roughly two feet to the ground, resulting in serious injuries.
An investigation by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development found that the injured worker had not received sufficient training on how to safely operate the overhead crane and the magnetic lifting device. Further contributing factors were also identified…