2 Alberta companies, supervisor fined for oil and gas site injury

A courtroom is seen at the Edmonton Law Courts building in Edmonton on June 28, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Two Alberta companies and one workplace supervisor have been fined a collective amount of $216,000 after a worker was injured in 2024.

On Dec. 11, prime contractor Canlin Resources Partnership pleaded guilty in an Edson, Alta., court to one count of failing to ensure an employer on a work site was informed of existing or potential hazards under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act.

Ulysses Engineering Inc., a contracting employer, pleaded guilty to one count for failing to ensure work site parties were informed of existing or potential hazards.

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A supervisor on site also pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to take precautions necessary to protect the health and safety of a worker under their supervision.

Between all three parties, 12 charges were withdrawn. All were related to an incident on an oil and gas site near Edson on March 21, 2024. A worker was using a torch to cut a wellhead casing for removal for well abandonment work.

The wellhead dislodged, struck and seriously injured the worker.

Canlin Resources Partnership was ordered to pay $116,000 to Red Deer Polytechnic to help create a training program for the safe use of torch systems, which a news release from Tuesday says will then target students and underrepresented groups in the trades.

Under the OHS Act, a sentence option exists to redirect fines to an organization or project that would improve workplace health and safety, known as a creative sentence.

Ulysses Engineering was fined $75,000, which included a victim fine surcharge, and was placed on two years of regulatory supervision.

The supervisor was fined $25,000, including a victim fine surcharge, and placed on 1.5 years of regulatory supervision.

Charges can be laid under the OHS Act when failing to follow rules leads to a fatality or serious injury.

Both the companies and supervisor have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.