Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Birchcliff Energy Ltd. has been ordered to pay $312,500 following the death of a worker at an oil and gas site west of Spirit River in Alberta.
The company pleaded guilty on August 14 in Grande Prairie Court of Justice to one offence under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act. The charge involved failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker. Other charges against the company were withdrawn.
The case relates to an incident on October 10, 2023, when a worker fell into a reservoir while collecting water samples at the oil and gas site and died.
As part of a creative sentence, the court directed that the penalty be distributed toward safety initiatives in the industry.
Of the total amount, $200,000 will go to Energy Safety Canada to establish an awareness and training programme focused on preventing serious injuries and fatalities during surface water operations.
Another $112,500 has been allocated to Saddle Hills County Protective Services. The funds will support the development of surface ice-water rescue training and help the organisation acquire equipment required for ice-water rescue operations.
Birchcliff Energy Ltd. and the Crown have a 30-day period in which they can appeal either the conviction or the penalty.
Alberta’s OHS legislation establishes workplace health and safety requirements across the province and sets out responsibilities for employers as well as protections for workers. Enforcement action can follow when workplace safety requirements are not met and the failure results in a fatality or serious injury.
The court-ordered payments in this case will be directed toward training, awareness and emergency-response measures intended to strengthen safety practices in Alberta’s energy sector.
