NEWMARKET, ONT. -- An Ontario company that repairs heavy-duty vehicles and equipment has been fined $85,000 for the death of a mechanic.

Ruggieri Brothers, of Vaughan, Ont., pleaded guilty under provincial health and safety laws.

The worker was killed in May of 2018 while installing a replacement air spring on a dump truck.

The Ministry of Labour says the worker over-inflated an air bag with compressed air and the plastic base exploded.

The man was killed by the shrapnel.

Evidence indicated that Ruggieri Brothers failed to ensure he was a licensed mechanic or registered apprentice.

The Canadian Press first published this article on Dec. 23, 2019.