Government of Alberta | A steel construction and fabrication company has been penalised $90,000 related to a serious workplace injury incident.
Steele Tech Fabrication Inc., as an employer, pleaded guilty in the Barrhead 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 four other counts.
Under a creative sentence, the company was ordered to pay $90,000 to the Barrhead Composite High School to purchase equipment for the school’s shop and welding/fabrication labs to increase student and teacher safety and provide students with high quality, modern training. The company was also placed on 18 months of enhanced regulatory supervision.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred at a steel fabrication shop near Barrhead on 17 March 2022.
Workers were moving a steel I-beam out of the shop with a telehandler forklift. The I-beam fell off the forks and struck a worker, who was walking beside the I-beam to guide it. The worker sustained serious injuries.
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. The company and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.
