Government of Alberta | An oil and gas company, an engineering firm and a supervisor have been penalised $216,000 collectively, related to a serious workplace injury incident.
The three parties pleaded guilty to occupational health and safety (OHS) charges in the Edson Court of Justice.
Canlin Resources Partnership, as a prime contractor, 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. The Crown withdrew seven other counts.
Ulysses Engineering Inc., as a contracting employer, pleaded guilty to one count under the OHS Act for failing to ensure work site parties were informed of existing or potential hazards. The Crown withdrew two other counts.
Matthew Morris, as a supervisor, pleaded guilty to one charge under the OHS Act for failing to take precautions necessary to protect the health and safety of a worker under his supervision. The Crown withdrew three other charges.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on an oil and gas site near Edson on 21 March 2024. A worker was using a torch to cut a wellhead casing for removal as part of a well abandonment process. The wellhead dislodged, striking and seriously injuring the worker.
Under a creative sentence, Canlin Resources Partnership was ordered to pay $116,000 to Red Deer Polytechnic to develop a training programme 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.
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.
Both the work site parties and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.
