An oil and gas company, an engineering firm and a supervisor have been fined in relation to a serious workplace injury incident that occurred near Edson last year.
The three parties were penalized $216,000 collectively after pleading guilty to occupational health and safety (OHS) charges on Dec. 11 in the Edson Court of Justice.
As a prime contractor, Canlin Resources Partnership pleaded guilty to one count under the OHS Act for failing to ensure an employer on a work site was informed of existing or potential hazards. Ulysses Engineering Inc., as a contracting employer, pleaded guilty to one count of failing to ensure work site parties were informed of existing or potential hazards. Meantime, Supervisor Matthew Morris pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to take precautions necessary to protect the health and safety of a worker under his supervision. The Crown collectively withdrew 12 other charges against the three parties.
The charges relate to an incident that occurred on an oil and gas site near Edson in March of 2024. A worker was reportedly using a torch to remove a wellhead casing during a well abandonment process. The wellhead dislodged, striking and seriously injuring the worker.
In a creative sentence, Canlin Resources Partnership was directed to pay $116,000 to Red Deer Polytechnic to develop a training program for the safe use of oxy-acetylene torch systems. The program will be targeted toward students and underrepresented groups in the trades.
Ulysses Engineering Inc. was fined $75,000, including the victim fine surcharge, and placed on two years of enhanced regulatory supervision. Morris was fined $25,000, including the victim fine surcharge, and placed on 1.5 years of enhanced regulatory supervision.
An enhanced regulatory supervision order requires a convicted party to complete action items to improve corporate or individual health and safety systems or knowledge.
The work site parties and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.
