Government of Alberta | Two residential construction companies have been fined $250,000 related to a serious workplace injury.
Excel Management Limited Partnership and Benchmark Cribbing Inc., both pleaded guilty in the Calgary Court of Justice to one count each under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act.
Excel Management Limited Partnership, as prime contractor, pleaded guilty to one count for failing to ensure workers were adequately trained to perform work in a healthy and safe manner. Three other counts against Excel Management Limited Partnership, Excel G.P. Ltd., and Excel Homes Limited Partnership were withdrawn.
Benchmark Cribbing Inc., as an employer, pleaded guilty to one count for failure to ensure that racks used to store materials or equipment were placed on firm foundations that could support the load respectively. The Crown withdrew three other counts.
The Crown issued a stay of proceedings against a third defendant.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred at a new residential development in Calgary on 16 December 2023. Workers were installing forms for a foundation when a cage holding panels fell, striking and pinning one worker and causing serious injuries.
Both companies were ordered to pay $125,000, inclusive of the 20% victim fine surcharge, with the fine to Excel G.P Ltd., payable immediately and the fine to Benchmark Cribbing payable by 23 December 2026.
