An Alberta-based equipment supplier has been fined $350,000.00 in relation to a workplace fatality in 2022.
On Jan. 27, Excel Projects LTD. was sentenced in the Edson Court of Justice after pleading guilty to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, for failing to ensure an operation control on a piece of equipment which could not be activated unintentionally.
Officials say these charges stem from an incident at an Edson facility on March 5, 2022. According to the report, a worker was securing equipment for transport off-site when the equipment became activated and pulled the worker in, causing fatal injuries.
The Crown withdrew 19 other charges under OHS legislation.
The OHS Act was designed to provide creative sentencing options in which funds that would normally be paid as fines are instead directed to an organization or project to improve or promote workplace health and safety. These sentences often include enhanced regulatory supervision orders, which require a convicted party to complete a number of action items to enhance safety knowledge and improve individual or corporate health and safety systems.
Excel Projects LTD. has been ordered to pay a total of $350,000.00 in penalties, including a $5000.00 fine inclusive of the 20 per cent victim fine surcharge. As part of a creative sentence, the company will use $225,000.00 to establish a scholarship for students enrolled in the Heavy Equipment Operator Program at Olds College and $120,000.00 to establish a similar scholarship for Portage College. Officials say this scholarship will be awarded to students in both programs who demonstrate a strong safety attitude and culture.
Both the company and the Crown have 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.
