HCL Site Services Ltd., as an employer, pleaded guilty on Nov. 20 in the Sherwood Park 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 five other counts.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on a sewer line restoration site in Viking on Aug. 19, 2022. A worker was seriously injured after a partial trench collapse.
The court fined the company $100,000 including the victim fine surcharge.
Both 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 Sherwood Park Court of Justice.