Ontario Construction News staff writer
Kiwi Constructors Ltd. has received a fine of $70,000 after a worker was hit by a moving production table at the company’s precast concrete facility in Guelph.
As stated in an Ontario court bulletin from Oct. 9, 2026, the company admitted guilt in Provincial Offences Court in Guelph for not ensuring that their equipment had a proper automatic warning system to alert employees when it was starting up or moving.
The incident took place on Sept. 24, 2025, at the facility located at 41 Massey Rd.
Kiwi Constructors employs a semi-automated production system that shifts large steel tables between different workstations. On the day of the accident, a worker walking through the production area stepped into the path of an advancing table and was struck by it.
An investigation by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development revealed that some parts of the equipment’s movement were not visible from the control station. The warning system utilized a white light to show when the tables were moving but was considered insufficient.
The company violated section 33 of Regulation 851 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This regulation mandates automatic start-up warning devices where machinery cannot be fully seen from its control station and could pose risks to workers.
A conviction was also issued under section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which requires employers to ensure that necessary safety measures and procedures are implemented in their workplaces.
Justice of the Peace Michael Cuthbertson imposed a fine of $70,000 following the guilty plea on Sept. 18, 2026. The court also mandated a victim fine surcharge of 25 percent as required by the Provincial Offences Act. This surcharge contributes to a provincial fund aiding victims of crime.
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