Canadian Worker Burned: New Safety Measures Put in Place

 

A worker who sustained burn injuries while changing grease in a fryer at a plant in New Annan, Prince Edward Island, has prompted the implementation of several safety measures, according to a report from the Canadian OH&S News.

 

 

At approximately 2 a.m. June 21, a worker at Cavendish Farms, a processor of frozen potato products, was changing grease in a fryer by operating a series of valves. When the grease went into one of the filtering systems, water that was somehow left in the system from a previous cleaning caused the grease to overflow, explained Bill Reid, director of the Occupational Health and Safety Division for the Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown.(WCxKit)

 

 

Board officials investigated the incident and issued a stop-work order on the equipment. Within the day, the employer implemented engineering controls to relocate the control valves to a remote area so that workers do not have to go under the equipment.

 

 

A barrier has also been installed over the valve to prevent grease overflow and the company also came up with a new procedure for the cleaning process to ensure no water could be left in the filtering system. The system is also expected to be replaced this fall.(WCxKit)

 

 

The stop-work order was lifted the day after these engineering and administrative controls were put in place, Reid says.