Alberta metal fabricator fined $360,000 for worker fatality

LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. – HTK Iron Works Ltd. in Lethbridge, Alta. has been fined $360,000 for an incident that resulted in a workplace fatality.

The company pleaded guilty to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act for failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker and was sentenced on Oct. 2 in the Medicine Hat Court of Justice.

The Crown withdrew four other charges under OHS legislation, an Alberta government release said.

The charges stem from an incident at a metal fabrication shop near Burdett on Feb. 1, 2023. A worker died after being struck by a fabricated windbreak panel that fell from a moving forklift, the release said.

HTK Iron Works Ltd. has been fined $360,000 inclusive of the 20 per cent victim fine surcharge.

Both the Crown and the company have up to 30 days to appeal.