Worker pulled into equipment, sustaining fatal injuries
Alberta employer Excel Projects Ltd. has been fined $350,000 after one worker was injured in the workplace.
The company was sentenced on Jan. 27 in the Edson Court of Justice.
The incident happened on March 5, 2022.
A worker was preparing equipment for transport off-site. The equipment became activated and the worker was pulled into the equipment, sustaining fatal injuries.
The employer pleaded guilty to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code.
Under a creative sentence, the company was ordered to pay $225,000 to establish a scholarship for heavy equipment operator program students at Olds College and $120,000 for a similar scholarship at Portage College. Students in both programs must demonstrate a strong safety attitude and culture to qualify for the scholarships.
“The OHS Act provides a creative sentence option in which funds that would otherwise be paid as fines are directed to an organization or project to improve or promote workplace health and safety,” said the Alberta government. “Creative sentences can also include an enhanced regulatory supervision order, which requires a convicted party to complete a number of action items to improve corporate or individual health and safety systems or knowledge.”
Excel Projects – which specializes in pipeline construction ranging in sizes from 2” to 20” OD, facility construction, fabrication and maintenance service solutions – was also tasked to pay a $5,000 fine inclusive of the 20 per cent victim fine surcharge.
Both the company and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.
