Association representative highlights urgent need for change in safety culture at utility company
SaskPower was sentenced Friday morning in a Weyburn courtroom, facing a historic workplace fine of $840,000, the largest in Saskatchewan’s history.
This penalty comes after the utility company was found guilty of three workplace safety violations that resulted in the tragic deaths of two experienced employees in 2020.
The court proceedings were attended by family members of the deceased, Scott Bill and Cole Crooks, as well as representatives from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2067. According to CTV News, both men, who were journeypersons with 19 years of experience, fell to their deaths on October 8, 2020, when the bucket they were in tipped over while they were performing their duties in Weyburn.
Ken Hoste, the assistant business manager for IBEW 2067, addressed the emotional impact of the case, stating that no ruling could bring Bill and Crooks back.
“We only hope to change the safety culture at SaskPower and I hope this highlights that a top-down change is needed to the safety culture,” Hoste said. He emphasized the close-knit nature of the Weyburn community and expressed a desire for the ruling to help bring closure to the families, friends, and coworkers affected by this tragedy.
The fine surpasses the previous record set in 2017 when Manitoba-based company Langenburg Redi-Mix was fined $560,000 for a workplace fatality. Hoste remarked that he did not come with expectations regarding the fine amount but acknowledged the significant impact the workplace deaths had on all members of the province represented by IBEW 2067.
In a statement to CTV News, SaskPower expressed its commitment to prioritizing the safety of its employees, contractors, and the public.
“We are always working to improve safety and learning at SaskPower, and this includes delivering the programs we created with employees through our Roadmap to Safety initiative,” the statement read.
The Crown acknowledged the contributions of Crooks and Bill as valued members of the SaskPower team, extending its condolences to their families and friends.
The court mandated that the fine be paid immediately, and SaskPower stated that it is currently analyzing the court’s decision and the resulting sentence.
In April 2024, Ontario’s Eastway Tank, Pump & Meter was fined $600,000 arising out of a workplace explosion in January 2022 that tragically killed six workers and left a seventh with catastrophic injuries.
