A Grande Prairie-based forestry company has pleaded guilty to failing to ensure worker safety following a fatal incident at a lumber mill in November 2023. The case has resulted in a significant financial penalty aimed at improving safety training for inexperienced workers.
Guilty Plea and Penalty
Weyerhaeuser Company Limited entered a guilty plea on May 19 in the Grande Prairie Court of Justice to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act. The charge relates to the company's failure to guarantee the health and safety of an employee. In exchange, the Crown withdrew 12 additional counts. The Government of Alberta announced the details in a news release on Tuesday.
Fatal Incident Details
The incident occurred on November 18, 2023, at a lumber mill near Grande Prairie. A worker was using a pike pole to clear an obstruction from a machine when the pole was unexpectedly and forcefully ejected, striking the worker fatally. The court found that the company did not take adequate measures to prevent such an occurrence.
Court-Ordered Safety Program
As part of the sentencing, the court ordered Weyerhaeuser to pay $355,000 to Northwestern Polytechnic. This funding will be used to develop the Northern Industrial Safety Pathways Program, which aims to provide structured training and tuition support for new and inexperienced workers. The program will cover high-risk industries such as forestry, oil and gas, manufacturing, mining, and agriculture.
Appeal and Next Steps
Both the company and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or the penalty. The case highlights ongoing concerns about workplace safety in the forestry sector and the importance of comprehensive training for workers entering hazardous environments.
