Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Heavy equipment company Finning International Inc. has been ordered to pay $155,000 following a workplace safety violation linked to an incident in which a worker was seriously injured at an equipment yard near Mildred Lake in Alberta.
The company pleaded guilty on October 16 in the Fort McMurray Court of Justice to one charge under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code for failing to ensure equipment was operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. All other charges were withdrawn.
The case relates to an incident on December 14, 2023, when a worker was struck by a moving loader at the equipment yard and sustained serious injuries.
Under the sentence, the court directed Finning to pay $155,000 to the Alberta Motor Transport Association. The funds will be used to develop and deliver practical safety education for workplace parties operating at or visiting third-party sites across Alberta.
The penalty was imposed through a creative sentencing arrangement, which directs funds towards initiatives intended to improve workplace safety.
The company and the Crown have 30 days to appeal the conviction or the penalty.
Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety legislation establishes minimum health and safety requirements for workplaces across the province. The rules outline employers’ responsibilities to maintain safe working environments while protecting workers’ rights.
Authorities may lay charges under OHS legislation when violations of workplace safety requirements result in a fatality or serious injury.
