Worker got hurt while ‘attempting to bleed off air pressure’
Apex Well Servicing (2010) Inc. has been fined $144,000 after a worker was seriously injured when a pressurised valve released and struck him at a northern Alberta worksite.
The Alberta oil and gas well servicing company pleaded guilty on June 18 in the High Prairie Court of Justice to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code for failing to provide safeguards where a worker could come into contact with an object thrown from machinery or equipment.
The court imposed the $144,000 penalty, which includes the victim fine surcharge. The Crown withdrew six other counts against the company. The company and the Crown each have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalty.
The incident
The incident occurred on Feb. 5, 2024, at the company's site in Slave Lake, Alta. A worker was attempting to “bleed off air pressure by loosening a valve with a wrench” when the valve suddenly released and struck him, according to the Alberta government.
The worker sustained serious injuries as a result of the strike. No further details about the worker's condition were provided in the government's announcement of the resulting court proceedings.
The charge against Apex was related specifically to the company's failure to provide safeguards where a worker could come into contact with an object thrown from machinery or equipment.
Under the OHS Code, employers are legally obligated to assess struck-by and pressure-release risks and implement controls before workers are exposed to them.
Alberta's OHS laws set basic health and safety rules for workplaces across the province, according to the Alberta government. The laws provide guidance for employers to help them ensure their workplaces are as healthy and safe as possible, while providing rights and protections for workers.
