WEYBURN - SaskPower was fined a total of $840,000 in relation to the deaths of two linemen in Weyburn in 2020, with the penalty imposed in Weyburn Provincial Court on Friday morning.
The Crown corporation was found guilty on April 6 on three counts of violations of the Occupational Health and Safety regulations, and the Saskatchewan Employment Act, after two SaskPower linemen, Scott Bill and Cole Crooks, died in a workplace incident on Oct. 8, 2020, in Weyburn.
The two men were more than 15 feet above ground in a bucket truck that had had tilting issues, tying in power lines on Government Road Â鶹´«Ã½AV and Sixth Avenue, when the bucket tilted and both men fell to the ground.
Both men were 19-year experienced journeymen, and according to the court records, had worked in this bucket truck countless times before, but “neither worker had their safety belt lanyards anchored to the ‘D’ ring located in the bucket specifically for the purpose of fall protection.”
Judge Michelle Brass noted that this bucket had a tilting issue that continued in spite of work done by SaskPower mechanics. She pointed out that none of the mechanics gave evidence at trial, “so it was not known what was done to address the tilting issue.” In addition, she said, a supervisor on the ground had failed to remind the workers to tie onto the safety line.
Following an investigation, SaskPower was charged with four counts of violations, and were subsequently found guilty of the first three counts.
These charges stated the following: “Count 1 alleged that SPC failed to provide and maintain plant, systems of work and work environments, as reasonably practicable, to ensure the health, safety and welfare of Messrs. Bill and Crooks at work.
“Count 2 alleged that SPC failed to provide any information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to protect the workers.
“Count 3 alleged that SPC failed to require or permitted the workers to be raised on an aerial device without using a personal fall arrest system that met the requirements under the legislation.”
The Crown prosecutor had recommended a fine of $500,000 for each count and a surcharge of $200,000, for a total of $2.1 million, while SaskPower asked for a fine of $200,000 on each charge for a total of $600,000.
In the end, Judge Brass fined SaskPower $300,000 on the first count plus a surcharge of $120,000, and $150,000 on each of the other two counts, along with surcharges of $60,000 on each charge, for the total of $840,000.
In a statement issued Friday, the Crown corporation said, "SaskPower is analyzing the decision and the sentence delivered by the Court."
A representative of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2067, Ken Hoste, commented after the verdict he is hopeful the fines will bring closure to the families, and will change the safety culture at SaskPower.
“No fine or court ruling is going to bring these guys home to their families,” said Hoste. “I hope this highlights that a top-down change is needed to the safety culture at SaskPower.”
He added he didn’t come in with any expectations of what the fines would be.
“I know there have been higher fines for workplace deaths in the province, but I didn’t have any expectations as to the numbers,” he said.
“I only hope it helps bring closure to the families. When something like this happens, Weyburn is a close-knit community, and these people are dedicated linemen. Really, I just hope the family, friends and co-workers, everybody can get some closure there,” he noted, adding that he was not going to speak for the families as he couldn’t imagine what they’ve been going through.
Hoste said the union represents workers province-wide, and “it has affected every single member in the province, whether we work in generation, the T&D side or the line trade. We’re just hoping it brings forth meaningful and sustained change to the safety practices and top-down safety culture at SaskPower.”
The hope also is that this verdict and fine will encourage workers to speak up if they see something wrong safety-wise at a work site.
“I hope it encourages workers to speak up. The general rule is, if you see something wrong with regards to safety, say something. I hope that this encourages more of our members to feel empowered to speak up when something isn’t right regarding safety,” said Hoste, adding that as a union, they will continue to collaborate with the company on safety issues and practices.
The union sits in on health and safety committees and have some input there, he added, “but at the end of the day they decide how they will go forward with things.”
In additional statements by SaskPower on this case, they stated, "Scott Bill and Cole Crooks were valued members of our SaskPower family. Their loss continues to be felt by us all. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of these two employees.
"SaskPower continues to make the safety of our employees, contractors, and the public our highest priority. 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."
Originally published on Â鶹´«Ã½AV.ca at 11:19 a.m. on Oct. 18.
