A major food processing company will pay $330,000 to develop industry safety training after a worker died in a smokehouse at its Edmonton facility.
Sofina Foods Inc. pleaded guilty June 18 in Edmonton Court of Justice to one count under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to ensure worker safety. The court ordered the company to pay the funds to the Alberta Food Processors Association to create a training program for the food processing industry, with specific focus on confined space work.
The Crown withdrew 25 other charges against the company.
The charges stemmed from a March 2, 2023 incident at Sofina’s Edmonton food processing plant where a worker was found unconscious inside a smokehouse and later died. The company admitted it failed to ensure the health and safety of the worker.
Creative sentencing addresses industry-wide concerns
The court used Alberta’s creative sentencing option, which directs money that would normally go to government fines toward organizations or projects that improve workplace safety. The approach aims to create broader industry benefits rather than simply penalizing individual companies.
Under the sentence, the Alberta Food Processors Association will develop training specifically for food processing operations, with emphasis on confined space safety protocols. Confined spaces present unique hazards in food processing facilities, including smokehouses, storage tanks and processing equipment.
Alberta’s OHS laws allow charges when safety violations result in workplace fatalities or serious injuries. The laws set basic health and safety requirements for employers across the province and provide rights and protections for workers.
Appeals possible within 30 days
Both Sofina Foods and the Crown have 30 days to appeal either the conviction or the penalty amount.
The Edmonton Court of Justice handles sentence documents, which are not provided by the provincial government. Alberta typically posts fatality investigation summaries online 60 to 90 days after court proceedings end.
The case highlights ongoing safety challenges in food processing operations, where workers face risks from equipment, confined spaces and processing environments. Industry observers say the creative sentence approach may prove more effective than traditional fines in preventing similar incidents.
