Two oilfield companies have been fined a total of $550,000 following a deadly workplace explosion that killed two workers southeast of Slave Lake in November 2022.Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd. and Peace Pipefitting Inc. were sentenced April 30 in Slave Lake Court of Justice after each pleaded guilty to a charge under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws. The incident occurred on November 12, 2022, when an explosion erupted as two workers were cutting a large tank with torches.Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd., the site’s prime contractor, admitted to failing to establish a system or process to ensure compliance with OHS legislation. The Crown withdrew 19 additional counts. The company was handed a $500,000 penalty, including a $25,000 fine and 20% victim fine surcharge. Under a creative sentence provision, Tamarack will also spend:$225,000 to CAREERS for welding and explosion safety education for high school students, including virtual reality headsets, videos, and scholarships.$150,000 to Energy Safety Canada for development of simultaneous operations guidelines and supervisor training programs.$100,000 to Threads of Life to support youth safety awareness, school presentations, and volunteer speaker training in Alberta.Peace Pipefitting Inc., acting as a supervisor, was fined $50,000, including a $20,000 fine and 20% surcharge, after pleading guilty to failing to take all necessary precautions to protect worker health and safety. Four additional charges were withdrawn. The company was ordered to spend $30,000 to Threads of Life for the same youth safety initiatives supported by Tamarack’s penalty.Creative sentencing allows courts to direct funds that would typically be paid as fines toward safety organizations and education efforts aimed at preventing future workplace injuries and deaths.The companies and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the decisions.Meanwhile, Voltegic Energy Services Ltd., an equipment fabricator also charged in the case, is scheduled for sentencing on May 28. Welding contractor 1282446 Alberta Ltd. had five charges stayed in July 2024.Alberta’s OHS laws set out minimum workplace safety standards and allow for prosecution when those rules are not followed, leading to serious injury or death.
