Chicken processing plant fined $39,000

An Armstrong chicken processing plant has been fined almost $39,000 after a worker sustained a severe injury during a cleaning process. WorkSafeBC reports that an end-of-day cleaning was being performed on a chilling machine at Colonial Farms Ltd. when a worker's arm was caught in a rotating bar. WorkSafeBC ruled that the machine lacked adequate safeguards before cleaning was undertaken. The company also failed to ensure energy sources were isolated and controlled to prevent the unexpected startup of machinery. In the ruling, Colonial Farms was also found to have failed to ensure equipment was fitted with adequate safeguards and there was a failure to ensure lockout devices were secured — both of these are cited as repeat violations and of high risk. The penalty was imposed Aug. 5 and a request for review has been received, according to WorkSafeBC