Birchcliff Energy Ltd has been fined $312,500 after pleading guilty to an occupational health and safety offence stemming from a workplace fatality near Spirit River in 2023.
On Aug. 14, the company pleaded guilty to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker . The remaining charges against the company were withdrawn.
The charges stemmed from an Oct. 10, 2023, incident at an oil and gas site west of Spirit River. A worker died after falling into a reservoir while collecting water samples.
Birchcliff was ordered to pay $200,000 to Energy Safety Canada to develop an industry awareness and training program focused on managing serious injury and fatality risks in surface water operations. The company was also ordered to pay $112,500 to Saddle Hills County Protective Services to develop surface-water rescue training and support the purchase of ice-water rescue equipment.
Alberta’s occupational health and safety legislation establishes health and safety requirements for workplaces and provides protections for workers.
