Isolation Equipment Services Inc., an oilfield equipment supplier, has been ordered to pay $360,000 in relation to a workplace fatality, following a guilty plea in the Red Deer Court of Justice. The company admitted to a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, which was linked to an incident where a worker was fatally injured.
The charges stemmed from an accident on January 13, 2022, at a construction site in Red Deer, where an overhead crane operator was fatally struck by a valve bonnet that unexpectedly released from its rigging. While the company faced 28 additional charges under OHS legislation, these were withdrawn by the Crown following the guilty plea.
The total penalties include a $1,000 fine, with the remaining $359,000 directed to Energy Safety Canada. This organization will use the funds to develop training programs focused on supervisors and the competency of new, young, and inexperienced workers, as part of a “creative sentence” allowed under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This act permits fines to be redirected towards initiatives that enhance workplace health and safety standards.
Alberta’s OHS laws, which aim to ensure safe working conditions across the province, mandate severe repercussions for safety violations leading to serious injuries or fatalities. The recent sentencing highlights the legal obligations of employers to safeguard their employees and the broader implications of non-compliance.
Both the company and the Crown have a 30-day period to appeal the conviction and the associated penalties. Further information on this case can be sought through the Red Deer Court of Justice, as detailed fatality investigation reports are made public approximately two to three months following the conclusion of legal proceedings.
