Ihawk Construction Ltd., as an employer, pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act on Jan. 16 in the Calgary Court of Justice. The company was fined $168,000 inclusive of the victim fine surcharge. The Crown withdrew 12 other charges against the company under OHS laws.
Utopia Construction Inc., as the prime contractor, pleaded guilty to one charge under the OHS Act of failing to establish a system or process to ensure compliance with OHS laws on the work site. The company was fined $168,000 inclusive of the victim fine surcharge on Jan. 16 in the Calgary Court of Justice. The Crown withdrew two other charges under OHS laws.
The Crown also withdrew 13 OHS charges against Rajwinder Kaur as an employer, and two charges against Rajwinder Singh as a supervisor.
The charges stem from a Jan. 2, 2023 incident on a Calgary residential construction site. A worker was using an unsecured portable ladder next to an uncovered opening in the floor. The portable ladder slipped, toppled over and fell through the opening into the basement. The worker suffered serious, life-altering injuries.
Both the companies and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the convictions or penalties.
Alberta’s OHS laws set basic health and safety rules for workplaces across the province. They provide guidance for employers to help them ensure their workplaces are as healthy and safe as possible while providing rights and protections for workers. Charges under OHS laws may be laid when failing to follow the rules results in a workplace fatality or serious injury.
Quick facts
- Jobs, Economy and Trade does not provide sentence documents. These are available through the Calgary Court of Justice.