The three parties pleaded guilty to occupational health and safety (OHS) charges on Dec. 11 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 March 21, 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 program 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.
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 Edson Court of Justice.
- Victim fine surcharges apply to fines payable to the Crown. They are not applied to payments to other entities under creative sentences.
- 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.