WEYBURN - The Saskatchewan Power Corporation will be appealing the convictions that they violated Occupational Health and Safety regulations, in relation to the deaths of two linemen in Weyburn in 2020, along with the fines levied in court.
The Crown corporation was fined a total of $840,000 for the convictions, with the penalty imposed in Weyburn provincial court on Oct. 18. These are among the highest fines ever imposed on a company for such charges in Saskatchewan.
SaskPower 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 South and Sixth Avenue, when the bucket tilted and both men fell to the ground, killing both workers.
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.”
Judge Michelle 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.
SaskPower confirmed they are appealing the convictions and fines, but do not have a court date set as yet.
“This does not diminish the great loss of Scott Bill and Cole Crooks, and we reiterate our deepest condolences to their family and friends,” said a statement from SaskPower media relations.
