New Westminster pub fined almost $10K after investigation into meat-slicer death
Victim Sanjeev Kainth, who had a newborn daughter, worked at River's Reach Pub as a line cook
WorkSafeBC has fined the River's Reach Pub in New Westminster, B.C., after its investigation into an incident where a worker died after falling on a running meat-slicer.
The incident happened in March 2017.
A family friend identified the victim as Sanjeev Kainth, a line cook who had a wife and two children, including a daughter less than a month old.
According to the WorkSafeBC investigation, the meat slicer in the pub needed to be sharpened and cleaned. It had been turned on and left running as the sharpening assembly was removed for cleaning.
Kainth reached for a container on the shelf above the slicer and fell on the exposed blade. The slicer nearly severed his arm, causing massive bleeding.
"Initial aid was administered on-site and the worker was extracted to hospital but succumbed to his injuries," said WorkSafeBC spokesperson Scott McCloy at the time.
River's Reach was shut down for 2½ days after the incident.
Fined $9,450.32
Investigators with WorkSafeBC found the pub did not follow the manufacturer's instructions to clean and sharpen the slicer, which included turning it off and unplugging it.
It also found it did not have an occupational health and safety program or regular workplace inspections.
The report concluded these were "high-risk violations" and penalized the pub for "failing to ensure the health and safety of its workers."
The business was fined $9,450.32.