North West Crane Enterprises Ltd., as an employer, pleaded guilty on Sept. 23 in the Grande Prairie Court of Justice to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code for failing to ensure that equipment or material that could dislodge or move did not pose a danger to workers. The Crown withdrew 10 other counts.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred at a site near Clairmont on Aug. 22, 2022. A worker died after being struck by a boom that was sitting on a non-certified pipe stand when the stand collapsed.
The court fined the company $210,000 including the victim fine surcharge. The company also was placed on 18 months of enhanced regulatory supervision.
The company and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.
Alberta’s OHS laws set basic health and safety rules for workplaces across the province. They provide guidance for employers to help them ensure their workplaces are as healthy and safe as possible while providing rights and protections for workers. Charges under OHS laws may be laid when failing to follow the rules results in a fatality or serious injury.
Quick facts
- Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration does not provide sentence documents. These are available through the Grande Prairie Court of Justice.
- An enhanced regulatory supervision order requires a convicted party to complete a number of action items to improve corporate or individual health and safety systems or knowledge.
- Fatality investigation summaries are posted to alberta.ca/fatality-investigation-summaries 60 to 90 days after court proceedings conclude.