Two construction companies have been ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines after a 2023 incident at a Calgary construction site left a worker with life-altering injuries.
The province said Wednesday Ihawk Construction Ltd., as an employer, plead guilty last week to one charge of failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act.
The company will pay $168,000 including the victim fine surcharge.
Twelve other charges against the company were withdrawn by the company under OHS laws.
Utopia Construction Inc., the prime contractor on the site where the incident occurred, has plead guilty under the OHS Act to one count of failing to establish a system or process to ensure compliance with OHS laws on the work site.
The company will also pay a fine of $168,000, which included the victim fine surcharge.
Two other chargers were withdrawn by the crown.
The Crown also withdrew 13 OHS charges against Rajwinder Kaur as an employer, and two charges against Rajwinder Singh as a supervisor.
OHS says on Jan. 2, 2023, a worker was using an unsecured portable ladder next to an uncovered opening in the floor at a Calgary residential construction site.
The portable ladder slips, toppled over, and fell through the opening into the basement.
The worker suffered serious injuries.
Appeals by the companies or the Crown must be submitted within 30 days, if desired.