Worker was greasing manufacturing equipment when they became entangled in it
InterPro Pipe & Steel Inc., formerly Evraz Inc. NA Canada, has been fined $138,000 after pleading guilty Aug. 5 in the Calgary Court of Justice to one count under Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, according to the Alberta government.
The charge related to the employer's failure to ensure a worker's health and safety. All remaining charges against the company were withdrawn.
The Alberta government did not specify how many charges were originally laid before the withdrawal.
Details of the Incident
The charges stem from an incident on Sept. 11, 2023, at a steel manufacturing facility in Calgary. A worker was greasing manufacturing equipment when they became entangled in it, the release said.
The worker suffered serious injuries. No further details on the equipment involved or the worker's condition were disclosed.
Entanglement hazards during equipment servicing are a recognized risk in manufacturing settings where machinery is not properly isolated before maintenance.
Penalty and appeal process
The $138,000 fine includes the mandatory victim fine surcharge, which funds victim assistance programs in Alberta.
Both the company and the Crown have up to 30 days from conviction to appeal the conviction or the penalty.
Alberta's OHS laws set minimum health and safety requirements for workplaces across the province, the Alberta government said. They guide employers toward safer operations while protecting workers' rights.
Charges may be laid when a failure to follow the rules results in a fatality or serious injury.
Managing heavy equipment hazards
According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), employers are required to carry out a risk assessment of their operations and put suitable control measures in place to manage heavy equipment hazards.
Site-level controls can include developing a traffic control plan, marking out walkways, and planning ahead for hazardous work. Operating heavy equipment also calls for a safe work plan outlining the scope of the task, the operator's work area, lift-related details, and a review of utility locates and related hazards, with associated risks and controls clearly identified. CCOHS notes that operators must be trained in safe equipment use, and some equipment may require specific licensing or certification.
A traffic control plan, per CCOHS guidance, should also set out traffic flow, speed limits, and walkway locations while accounting for hazardous work zones.
