Birchcliff Energy Ltd., as an employer, pleaded guilty on Aug. 14 in the Grande Prairie Court of Justice to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act for failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker. All remaining charges against Birchcliff Energy Ltd. were withdrawn.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred Oct. 10, 2023, at an oil and gas site west of Spirit River. A worker died after falling into a reservoir while obtaining water samples.
Under a creative sentence, the court ordered the company to pay $200,000 to Energy Safety Canada to develop an industry awareness and training program focused on managing serious injury and fatality risks in surface water operations. The court also ordered the company to pay $112,500 to Saddle Hills County Protective Services to develop surface ice water rescue training and support the purchase of ice water rescue equipment.
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.
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