A scaffolding company was sentenced on November 4th in the St. Albert Court of Justice after pleading guilty to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act for failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker.
In 2002, at a pulp mill near Peace River on June 11, 2022, a worker was dismantling scaffolding when the employee fell from a height and suffered fatal injuries.
Under a creative sentence, West Coast Scaffolding Inc. was ordered to pay $350,000 to Athabasca County for the Caslan Volunteer Fire Department for training and purchasing new rescue equipment. The Occupational Health and Safety Act provides a creative sentence option in which funds that would otherwise be paid as fines are directed to a non-profit organization or project to improve or promote workplace health and safety.
Both the company and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.
The province’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.
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