Hamilton hospital fined after lab centrifuge lid fell and injured a worker

What happened

• On August 28, 2024, a worker loading samples into a Thermo Scientific Heraeus Megafuge 16R centrifuge was critically injured when the lid slipped and fell.
• The hospital pleaded guilty in Provincial Offences Court (June 18, 2026) to failing to ensure the machine was maintained, contrary to section 25(1)(b) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

By the numbers

• Fine: $65,000
• Victim fine surcharge: 25% (credited to a provincial victims fund)

Key facts from the release

• Maintenance/calibration reports in June 2023 and June 2024 both noted the lid gas strut required replacement.
• Attempts to replace the gas strut after the 2024 report were delayed because the wrong replacement part was ordered; the repair was completed August 30, 2024, after the injury.

Why it matters

• The conviction and fine stem from a finding that the employer did not keep equipment in good condition, a legal duty under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The case highlights the importance of timely equipment maintenance in workplace safety, especially in clinical and research labs.