Regina company fined $350K following worker’s death

A workplace fatality near Ceylon in November of 2017 has resulted in a $350,000 fine against a Regina company.

During an appearance June 22 in Weyburn Provincial Court, B L S Asphalt Inc. was found guilty on two counts under The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.

The company was found guilty of failing “to provide any information, instruction, training and supervision that is necessary to protect the health and safety of workers at work, resulting in the death of a worker,” and failing “to provide an effective safeguard where a worker may contact a dangerous moving part of a machine, resulting in the death of a worker.”

On Nov. 22, 2017, a worker died after getting entangled in a conveyor while clearing the chute of the conveyer system.

The company was fined $125,000 plus a surcharge of $50,000 on each count. Another charge was dismissed.

Another company fined

An Edmonton company was fined $65,000 in Estevan Provincial Court on June 21 after pleading guilty to one count under The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.

On Jan. 14, 2019, in Oxbow, a worker suffered serious injuries after sparks from a grinder ignited a fire on the worker’s clothing.

Blueforce Logistics Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing “where there is a risk of injury to the skin of a worker from sparks or molten metal, to provide and require the worker to use approved protective clothing or covers or any other safeguard that provides equivalent protection for the worker, resulting in a serious injury to a worker.”

The company was fined $46,428.57 plus a surcharge of $18,571.43. Another charge was withdrawn.