An Alberta oil and gas exploration service company has been fined $114,000 after pleading guilty to a workplace safety violation connected to an explosion that seriously injured a worker.
Artis Exploration Ltd. entered a guilty plea on Oct. 1 in the Red Deer Court of Justice to one count under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code related to hazard assessment and control. The remaining charges against the company were withdrawn as part of the proceeding.
The case stemmed from an incident on May 10, 2024, at an oil battery site in Kneehill County, where a worker was seriously injured after an explosion and fire. The Red Deer Court of Justice imposed the $114,000 penalty, which includes a victim fine surcharge.
Appeal Window and Related Charges
Both the company and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or the penalty amount.
A second company, Synergy Well Servicing Ltd., faces four separate charges under OHS laws connected to the same incident. That company’s hearing is scheduled for Nov. 18 in the Red Deer Court of Justice.
Alberta’s Workplace Safety Rules
According to a Government of Alberta media release, the province’s OHS laws establish basic health and safety requirements for workplaces across Alberta. The release states that these rules are intended to guide employers in keeping workplaces safe while protecting workers’ rights.
The release also noted that charges under OHS laws can be laid when a failure to follow the rules results in a fatality or serious injury, as occurred in this case.
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