A forest products company has been fined $355,000 following a workplace accident that claimed the life of a worker at a lumber mill near Grande Prairie.
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Weyerhaeuser Company Limited pleaded guilty in the Grande Prairie Court of Justice on May 19 to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act for failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker. Following the guilty plea, the Crown withdrew 12 other related charges.
The penalty stems from an incident on Nov. 18, 2023. Investigators found that a mill worker was using a pike pole to clear an obstruction from a piece of machinery when the pole was violently ejected, striking and killing the worker.
Instead of a traditional fine, the court imposed a “creative sentence” under Alberta’s OHS laws. The $355,000 penalty will be directed entirely to Northwestern Polytechnic to fund the development of the Northern Industrial Safety Pathways Program.
The new initiative will provide structured safety training and tuition support specifically targeted at new and inexperienced workers entering high-risk industries, including forestry, oil and gas, manufacturing, mining, and agriculture.
Under provincial guidelines, creative sentences allow funds to be funneled directly into organizations or projects that actively promote workplace health and safety, rather than going to the Crown. Because the money is designated for a educational institution, standard victim fine surcharges do not apply.
Both the Crown and Weyerhaeuser have up to 30 days from the sentencing date to appeal the conviction or the penalty.
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