Company charged nearly $500K, director jailed

Trench wall collapsed, killing Edmonton labourer

On April 28, 2015, a labourer in Edmonton was in a trench to connect a new sewer line to a residential home under construction when a trench wall collapsed and fatally injured the worker.

Haya Homes pled guilty to section 3(3) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. As prime contractor, it failed to ensure the OHS act, the regulations and the code were complied with at the work site. On May 23, 2017, Haya Homes was fined $111,250 inclusive of victim fine surcharge and placed on two years of corporate probation. In addition, it was ordered under OHS Act section 41.1 to pay $50,000 in favour of the Bissell Centre to support safety training workshops for their employment services clients. All other charges were withdrawn.
Sahib Contracting pled guilty to section 2(1)(a)(i) of the OHS act, as an employer, failing to protect the health and safety of a worker. On Nov. 1, 2017, Sahib Contracting was sentenced to a fine of $425,000 plus a victim fine surcharge of $63,750 for a total penalty of $488,750. All other charges were withdrawn.

Sukhwinder Nagra pled guilty to 2(2)(a) of the OHS act, as a worker engaged in an occupation, failure to protect the health and safety of another worker. Nagra was also the director of Sahib Contracting. On Nov.1, 2017, Sukhwinder Nagra was sentenced to four months in jail plus a $100 victim fine surcharge.
All other charges were withdrawn.

Source: Government of Alberta