Apex Well Servicing (2010) Inc., as an employer, pleaded guilty on June 18 in the High Prairie Court of Justice to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety Code for failing to provide safeguards if a worker may come into contact with an object thrown from machinery or equipment. The Crown withdrew six other counts.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred Feb. 5, 2024, at the company’s site in Slave Lake. A worker was attempting to bleed off air pressure by loosening a valve with a wrench. The valve released, struck the worker and caused serious injuries.
The court fined the company $144,000 including the victim fine surcharge.
The company and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalty.
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 High Prairie Court of Justice.