HAMILTON, ON, Jan. 31 /CNW/ - Vquip Inc., an equipment rental company in

Burlington, Ont., was fined $65,000 today for a violation of the Occupational

Health and Safety Act in connection with the death of a user of its equipment.

    On December 22, 2001, a worker, who had been using a floor cleaning

machine to clean a floor, was found slumped over the machine's steering wheel.

The worker was deceased. A Ministry of Labour investigation determined Glycol

Management Inc. had rented the machine from Vquip Inc. on December 20, 2001.

Following the Glycol worker's death, carbon monoxide testing of the machine

found emission readings to be about 10 times the maximum limit suggested by

the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).

Mechanical testing found the high emissions were due to problems with the

machine's fuel system. The ministry found Vquip Inc. had not tested the

machine for exhaust emissions prior to the fatality. However, it could not be

definitively determined whether the worker died from carbon monoxide poisoning

or a pre-existing medical condition, or both. The incident occurred at

Glycol's premises on Airport Road in Mount Hope, Ont.

    Vquip Inc. pleaded guilty, as a supplier, of failing to ensure the

machine was in good condition. This was contrary to Section 31(1) of the act.

    The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Barbara Waugh of the Ontario

Court of Justice in Hamilton. In addition, 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.