Brooks company fined after worker killed at job
By Medicine Hat News on March 13, 2024.
@MedicineHatNews Medicine Hat News A Brooks roadbuilding company has been fined almost $300,000 after a worker was buried and killed while cleaning out a gravel bin in July 2021. The fine was announced by Occupational Health and Safety officials on Tuesday morning. It resolves 15 initial charges laid against Smith Group Holdings, Ltd. and its subsidiary Brooks Asphalt & Aggregate, Ltd., under the OHS Act. On March 6, the company pleaded guilty to one count of to failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker. The remaining charges were withdrawn. Court of Justice in Brooks heard that the incident occurred at a construction site in the County of Newell, where the worker was asphyxiated by gravel from a running conveyor. Under “creative sentencing” guidelines, most of the $295,000 penalty will be forwarded to the Alberta Construction Safety Association to produce educational materials that it will make available to companies. The remaining $50,000 will be used by the County of Newell to purchase rescue equipment. 9-8
