Krispy Kreme fined for forklift violation

The Canadian subsidiary of Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp. has been fined $90,000 for an OSHA violation that resulted in a serious leg injury to a new employee.

KremeKo Inc., whose parent company is Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Krispy Kreme, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that a lifting device was operated only by a competent person, as prescribed by Section 51(2)(a) of the Regulations for Industrial Establishments.

On Aug. 13, 2004, a truck driver at KremeKo's Mississauga, Ontario, industrial facility was on a small ramp using a lift truck to move some large flowerpots when the driver lost control of the lift truck. The driver's left leg became pinned between the lift truck and some metal bakery racks, resulting in a broken leg bone.

An investigation found the driver had never operated a lift truck before and had not received the company's formal lift truck training.

A justice of the Ontario Court of Justice imposed the fine, along with a 25 percent victim fine surcharge.