Simcoe, ON – Scotlynn Investments Inc., the Norfolk County operator of Scotlynn Farms, a ginseng farm and processing plant, was fined $50,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured.
On October 17, 2009, at the company’s workplace in the hamlet of Vittoria, a seasonal worker was cleaning out a machine used to wash and tumble ginseng. The worker’s arm was pulled into the machine’s exposed chain and pulley system and was seriously injured.
Scotlynn Investments Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to take the reasonable precaution of providing a guard or other device to prevent workers from accessing the moving parts of the ginseng tumbler and conveyor system.
The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Paul Welsh. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.