CALGARY, ALTA. — Two construction companies have been fined $168,000 each in relation to a serious workplace injury that occurred in 2023.
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, a release states.
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 worksite. The company was also fined $168,000 inclusive of the victim fine surcharge. 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 release states 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.
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