Crown corporation faces four charges after workers fell from bucket in 2020
Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower) is the defendant in a trial beginning today related to the deaths of two powerline technicians employed by SaskPower.
On October 8, 2020, a 51-year-old Scott Bill and a 40-year-old Cole Crooks died after they fell from a bucket they were in, while working on a power line in Weyburn.
The trial takes place at the Weyburn Courthouse and SaskPower, which is a crown corporation, faces four charges. A local publication, Discover Weyburn, published the charges as follows:
1. Being an employer at a place of employment, fail to provide and maintain plant, systems of work, and working environments that ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare at work of the employer’s workers as required by section 12(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996 resulting in the deaths of workers Scott Bill and Cole Crooks contrary to subsections 3-78(g) and 3-79 of The Saskatchewan Employment Act.
2. Being an employer at a place of employment, fail to provide any information, instruction, training, and supervision that is necessary to protect the health and safety of workers at work as required by section 12(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996, resulting in the deaths of workers Scott Bill and Cole Crooks, contrary to subsections 3-78(g) and 3-79 of The Saskatchewan Employment Act.
3. Being an employer, require or permit a worker to be raised or lowered by any aerial device or elevating work platform or to work from a device or platform held in an elevated position unless the worker is provided with and is required to use a personal fall arrest system that meets the requirements of Part VII as required by section 192(2)(h) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996 resulting in the deaths of workers Scott Bill and Cole Crooks contrary to subsections 3-78(g) and 3-79 of The Saskatchewan Employment Act.
4. Being an employer, fail to ensure that a worker who operates an aerial device or elevating work platform is trained to operate the device or platform safely; and the training includes the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations, the load limitations, the proper use of all controls and any limitations on the surfaces on which the device or platform is designed to be used as required by section 192(5) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996 resulting in the deaths of workers Scott Bill and Cole Crooks contrary to subsections 3-78(g) and 3-79 of The Saskatchewan Employment Act.
At the time of the incident, SaskPower president and CEO, Mike Marsh issued a statement saying,
"From the bottom of our hearts, we acknowledge them for their service and dedication to SaskPower and to our customers across the province…This terrible loss of members of our SaskPower family and of the Weyburn community, is deeply felt by us all."
"On behalf of the entire Executive team and Board of Directors at SaskPower, our heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathies go out to their families, friends and to all their co-workers in this difficult time."
Also at that time, SaskPower said it would work with authorities on internal and external investigations. The trial is expected to last five days.
