(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Workplace incident

City of Prince Albert pleads guilty to workplace safety violation, handed fines

Apr 25, 2024 | 2:49 PM

The City of Prince Albert has pleaded guilty in Provincial Court and is taking responsibility for a workplace safety violation stemming from an incident that happened back in September 2022.

The incident happened when an employee at the worksite, who was standing upright on the ledge of a retaining wall, reached down with a metal bar to unhook the nozzle of a hose under tension in a storm line outlet. As the nozzle was lifted free, the hose retracted swiftly, pulling the employee over the side of the retaining wall.

As a result of the incident, the City accepted a $67,857 fine and is also responsible for paying a court surcharge of $27,143. In response, the City has developed a new safe work practice which includes the use of a mobile fall arrest system for use in similar circumstances, a practice that is now a leading standard in the Province.

“One workplace incident is too many,” said Don Wood, Health, Safety, and Environment Coordinator for the City of Prince Albert in a release.

“The safety of our employees is an ongoing commitment, and we acknowledge the significance of this incident, the impact it has had on the individual and the responsibility we have to ensure our employees are properly trained and equipped to perform their jobs safely.”

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The Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety legislation is designed to ensure workplace safety and deter incidents. It requires employers to continuously train and equip workers in dynamic and varied work environments to ensure their safety.

“Our employees operate in various workspaces and surroundings, presenting unique and sometimes dangerous circumstances,” Wood added. “While this incident was the consequence of rare circumstances, the resulting procedure equips our employees with a better standard going forward and will serve as a tool for other workplaces in Saskatchewan to help improve the safety of employees across the province.”

The fines imposed reflect the seriousness of the incident and resulting injuries. The fines will be paid by the City’s Fiscal Stabilization fund.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com