Two Calgary building companies fined $168,000 each for workplace safety violate

Two Calgary building  companies fined $168,000 each for workplace safety  violations.
Written by HR News Canada  on January  23, 2025
Two Calgary construction companies  have been fined $168,000 each for  violating the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act  after a workplace incident that  resulted in serious injuries to a  worker. The penalties were  imposed by the Calgary Court of Justice on  January 16.
Ihawk Construction Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker, contrary to the  Occupational Health and Safety Act. The fine  imposed on the company includes a  compensatory surcharge. Twelve additional charges against the company under  the OHS laws were withdrawn by the  Crown. Utopia Construction Inc., the  main contractor  for the  project, admitted  that it did not have a system or process  in place to ensure compliance with OHS laws. The company was fined $168,000,  including the victim surcharge. The Crown withdrew two additional charges against Utopia  Construction. The charges stem from  an incident that occurred on January 2, 2023, at a residential construction site in Calgary. A worker using an unsecured portable ladder  near an  exposed floor opening fell into the basement after the ladder slipped and  fell through the  hole. The worker  suffered life-changing injuries.
In the same case, the Crown  dropped 13  SST charges against Rajwinder Kaur, an employer, and two charges against Rajwinder Singh, a  supervisor. Under Alberta's occupational health and safety laws, employers and  principal contractors are  required to ensure safety in the workplace. Charges can be laid if violations  result in serious  injury or  death.
The companies and the Crown have a month to appeal convictions or fines.

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