A steel construction and fabrication company has been fined $90,000 after a worker was seriously injured in an incident at a shop near Barrhead, Alta.
Steele Tech Fabrication pleaded guilty on Aug. 26 in the Barrhead Court of Justice to one count under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act for failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker. Four other charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
As part of the sentence, the company was ordered to pay $90,000 to Barrhead Composite High School to buy new equipment for its shop and welding/fabrication labs. The goal is to improve safety for teachers and students and provide updated training opportunities.
The company will also face 18 months of enhanced regulatory supervision, requiring it to complete measures to strengthen its health and safety systems.
The charges stem from a workplace incident on March 17, 2022. According to the province, workers were moving a steel I-beam with a telehandler forklift when it fell from the forks and struck a worker who was guiding it. The worker suffered serious injuries.
The OHS Act allows courts to order “creative sentences” where payments that would normally go toward fines are directed instead to community projects aimed at improving workplace health and safety.
Both Steele Tech Fabrication and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalties.
