A pulp mill in Prince George, B.C., owned by Canfor Pulp Ltd., has been fined almost $500,000 after a worker seriously injured their hand in an unguarded piece of machinery.

WorkSafeBC issued the $489,104 penalty on July 10 following an inspection at the company's Northwood Pulp Mill in April.

According to the inspection report, a worker was injured on the fifth floor by a hydraulic cylinder that cycles every 64 seconds, "dropping rapidly down" into a metal box. This cylinder was part of a system that pumps "black liquor," a mix of toxic chemicals created during the pulping process.

The agency determined the firm failed to ensure its machinery and equipment was fitted with adequate safeguards to protect workers from hazardous points of operation, said a summary of the fine recently post

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