Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd. and Peace Pipefitting Inc. pleaded guilty to one charge each under occupational health and safety (OHS) laws. They were sentenced on April 30 in the Slave Lake Court of Justice.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on a site southeast of Slave Lake on Nov. 12, 2022. Two workers were cutting a large tank with torches when an explosion occurred, killing both workers.
Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd., as a prime contractor, pleaded guilty to one count under the OHS Act for failing to establish a system or process to ensure compliance with OHS laws. The Crown withdrew 19 other counts. The company received a total penalty of $500,000 including a $25,000 fine that includes the 20 per cent victim fine surcharge. Under a creative sentence, the company was ordered to pay:
- $225,000 to CAREERS for welding and explosion safety awareness for high school students including virtual reality headsets, videos and scholarships.
- $150,000 to Energy Safety Canada for simultaneous operations guideline/session and subsidized supervisor training.
- $100,000 to Threads of Life for young worker safety awareness and Alberta high school presentations, Speaker’s Bureau volunteer training, Family Forum and Alberta-based safety videos.
Peace Pipefitting Inc., as a supervisor, pleaded guilty to one count under the OHS Act for failing to take all precautions necessary to protect the health and safety of workers. The Crown withdrew four other counts. The company received a total penalty of $50,000 including a $20,000 fine that includes the 20 per cent victim fine surcharge. Under a creative sentence, the company was ordered to pay:
- $30,000 to Threads of Life for young worker safety awareness and Alberta high school presentations, Speaker’s Bureau volunteer training, Family Forum and Alberta-based safety videos.
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 companies and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.
Equipment fabricator Voltegic Energy Services Ltd., as an employer, is charged with 11 counts related to this incident and is scheduled to be sentenced May 28 in the Slave Lake Court of Justice. Five counts against welding contractor 1282446 Alberta Ltd. as a supervisor were stayed on July 17, 2024.
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 workplace fatality or serious injury.
Quick facts
- Jobs, Economy and Trade does not provide sentence documents. These are available through the Slave Lake Court of Justice.
- Victim fine surcharges apply to fines payable to the Crown.
- Surcharges are not applied to payments to other entities under creative sentences.
- Fatality investigation summaries are posted to alberta.ca/fatality-investigation-summaries 60 to 90 days after court proceedings conclude.