Canadian Occupational Safety | A Manitoba government department has been fined $100,000 following the 2022 workplace death of a Manitoba Wildfire Service employee in an all-terrain vehicle rollover near The Pas.

The penalty was imposed in provincial court in The Pas against what is now known as the Department of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures, in connection with the death of 23-year-old initial attack fire crew leader Riley Pich‑Manych.

The department has up to one year to pay the total fine.

According to an agreed statement of facts presented in court, Pich‑Manych and three co-workers were servicing all-terrain vehicles on 11 July 2022 so they could be used in a training exercise the following day. After the maintenance work, the group took the ATVs out for test drives, during which some of the machines became stuck in mud near the Grace Lake fire base, close to The Pas.

One ATV was recovered using a winch attached to another vehicle, but the battery on a second ATV died while the crew was attempting to free it, the court heard. Pich‑Manych then set out on an ATV to retrieve a battery booster. During that trip, his vehicle rolled, causing serious injuries, according to the report.

He was transported to St. Anthony’s General Hospital in The Pas and later flown to Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. He was taken off life support the following day. A post-mortem examination confirmed he died from head injuries sustained in the rollover.

The court was told that workers operating the ATVs were wearing hard hats rather than helmets specifically designed for off-road vehicle use. Counsel for the province, lawyer Danny Gunn, said hard hats had been accepted as personal protective equipment for ATV operators under a previous exemption, but that exemption had expired before the incident, according to the report.

Lawyer Josh Weinstein, representing the department, told the court the department would plead guilty to three offences: 

  • Failing to adequately train employees.
  • Failing to adequately supervise them.
  • Failing to provide appropriate helmets. 

The court imposed fines of $40,000 on each of the first two counts and $20,000 on the third. A fourth charge was stayed.

Judge Todd Rambow said Pich‑Manych’s age influenced the size of the penalty, noting that he was still considered a young worker under Manitoba labour law at the time of his death. The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba defines a young worker as anyone between 15 and 24 years of age.

The court heard that, following Pich‑Manych’s death, new regulations were introduced dealing with training, safety equipment and vehicle use, according to the report. Those changes were described in court as measures aimed at improving how workers are trained to use ATVs and what protective equipment is required when operating them.

Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety | Valley Meat Processors Inc. has pleaded guilty in Rosthern Provincial Court to one violation of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020.

The company was charged with contravening clause 3-1(c) of the regulations (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, resulting in a serious injury of a worker).

As a result, the Court imposed a fine of $28,571.43, along with a victim fine surcharge of $11,428.57, for a total fine of $40,000. One charge was withdrawn.

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on 28 December 2023, near Gruenthal, Saskatchewan. A worker was seriously injured while handling a rifle which discharged.

Environment and Climate Change Canada | Estee Lauder Cosmetics Ltd. has been fined $750,000 after pleading guilty to two counts of violating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (the Act).

These two offences were related to the failure to inform the government regarding a significant new activity and the failure to comply with a compliance order. In addition to the fine, the company was ordered by the Court to notify its shareholders about this conviction. The fine will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.

In May 2023, as part of a routine inspection, Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers discovered the company was selling some eyeliner products that had Perfluorononyl Dimethicone listed as an ingredient. Perfluorononyl Dimethicone is a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals”.

The importation, sale, and distribution of cosmetic products that have Perfluorononyl Dimethicone as an ingredient are considered a “significant new activity” under the Act. This means the company was required to notify the government before the activity occurred. This important requirement allows the government to assess potential health or environmental risks in advance. In this case, by not respecting the requirement to notify, the company violated subsection 81(4) of the Act.

On 8 June 2023, officers issued an environmental protection compliance order to the company regarding the “significant new activity”. The order outlined steps the company was to take to become compliant with the “significant new activity” requirements of the Act. Ultimately, the company did not comply with the order, resulting in a violation of subsection 238(1) of the Act.

As a result of this conviction, the company’s name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry. The Registry contains information on convictions of corporations registered for offences committed under certain federal environmental laws.

Canadian Occupational Safety | WorkSafeBC has fined Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. $798,867.87 following a combustible dust incident at the company’s Kitimat smelter that regulators have classified as a repeated and high‑risk safety violation.

The penalty stems from an incident in which a worker was operating an alloy system when a flame from an enclosed manganese hopper generated sufficient pressure to displace a lid onto an adjacent platform, according to WorkSafeBC.

Following its inspection, the regulator determined that the alloy station involved in the incident had not been designed for use with manganese, which is considered a combustible dust. WorkSafeBC issued a stop‑work order at the smelter and concluded that the firm failed to ensure its workplace was planned, constructed, used, and maintained in a manner that protected workers from danger.

The violation was designated as both repeated and high risk in the manufacturing sector under the smelter classification unit.

This is the third major safety penalty at Rio Tinto’s Kitimat smelter in less than two years.

In February 2025, Rio Tinto was ordered to pay more than $710,000 following two separate incidents involving subcontracted workers. One worker suffered an electric shock, while another was injured by unguarded machinery. Investigators cited multiple safety failures, including inadequate hazard controls and the absence of proper lockout procedures.

Earlier, in June 2024, WorkSafeBC imposed a $783,000 penalty after a worker was injured when an overhead crane struck an elevated platform during maintenance. The regulator found that no safe work procedures had been established for the task and that the crane had been returned to service before being certified as safe.

Victoria Buzz | WorkSafeBC has handed a Nanaimo construction company a fine of $21,881 following a workplace incident which cost one worker his life.

Muchalat Projects Ltd. was installing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning at a mixed-use construction site in Nanaimo in the 3700 block of Shenton Road.

According to WorkSafeBC, an investigation was launched after the fatal incident in which a pair of large door frames, measuring 3.6 metres wide and 2 metres high, that were propped up against the building fell on him.

The young worker was reportedly on his first day on the job when the fatal incident occurred.

WorkSafeBC’s investigation determined that the firm had not provided that site-specific safety orientation was not provided to the worker prior to commencing work.

Furthermore, the investigation found that the worker had not been adequately supervised and no documented hazard identification or risk assessment had been conducted on the day of the incident.

The firm failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety, a high-risk violation, said WorkSafeBC in the incident’s penalty summary.

In addition to Muchalat Projects, the project managing company and the company which was hired for windows and doors were also issued with fines.

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.

Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety | 3Twenty Modular has been sentenced after having pleaded guilty in Saskatoon Provincial Court to violations of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020.

The company was charged with contravening subsection 13-3 (1) of the regulations (being an employer or contractor, fail to ensure that every hoist, crane and lifting device, including all rigging, used at the place of employment is designed, constructed, installed, maintained and operated to perform safely any task for which the hoist, crane, lifting device, or rigging is used, resulting in the serious injury of a worker).

The company was also charged with contravening clause 14-2 (b) of the regulations (being an employer or contractor, failing to ensure that any worker who is required or permitted to assemble, use, maintain or dismantle rigging is trained in safe rigging practices, resulting in the serious injury of a worker).

As a result, the Court imposed fines on each count of $35,714.29, along with a surcharge of $14,285.71, for a total penalty of $100,000.

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on 21 July 2023, in Corman Park, Saskatchewan. A worker was seriously injured when a wall at a construction site fell and landed on their leg. Two other charges were stayed.

Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety | Brandt Industries Canada Ltd. has been sentenced after being found guilty in Regina Provincial Court for one violation of The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020.

The company was charged with contravening subsection 11-2 (2) of the regulations (being an employer fail to ensure that only trained operators are required or permitted to operate powered mobile equipment, resulting in the serious injury of a worker).

As a result, the Court imposed a fine of $39,286.71, along with a surcharge of $15,713.29, for a total amount of $55,000.

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on 2 September 2021, in Regina, Saskatchewan. A worker was seriously injured while operating a forklift.

Government of Alberta | A sand and gravel supplier has been penalised $150,000 related to a serious workplace injury incident.

McLeod Valley Sand and Gravel, as an employer, pleaded guilty in the Evansburg Court of Justice to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act for failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker. The Crown withdrew 14 other counts.

The Crown withdrew all 17 counts against JRF Oilfield Services Ltd. related to the same incident.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on a construction site near Entwistle on 29 June 2023. A worker became entangled in a roller that formed part of a conveyer’s drive system and suffered serious injuries.

Under a creative sentence, the court ordered McLeod Valley Sand and Gravel to pay $150,000 to the Alberta Sand and Gravel Association to develop three interactive online safety training modules.

The OHS Act provides a creative sentence option in which funds that would otherwise be paid as fines are directed to an organisation or project to improve or promote workplace health and safety.

Both the company and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.

Government of Alberta | An insulation and metal cladding contractor has been fined $210,000 related to a workplace death.

Pacific Rim Industrial Insulations Ltd., as an employer, pleaded guilty in the Fort McMurray Court of Justice to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code for failing to ensure a worker used a travel restraint system where the worker could fall a vertical distance of three metres or more.

The company was fined $210,000 including the 20% victim fine surcharge and placed on 18 months of enhanced regulatory supervision. The Crown withdrew three other counts.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred at an oil sands facility at Mildred Lake on 8 June 2023.

A worker died after falling through an opening while replacing a building’s metal roof.

Both the company and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.

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