Blog Post #1723 – Three Companies Fined in 2022 Death of Worker in Northern Alberta

Report from the OH&S Canada magazine (Spring 2025) as originally reported by the Canadian Press

Three companies have been fined $1.2 million over a workplace death in northern Alberta.

Suncor Energy Services Inc., Joy Global Canada Ltd., and NCSG Crane & Heavy Haul Services Ltd. each pleaded guilty to a charge under Alberta’s occupational health and safety rules.

Several other counts were withdrawn.

The province says the worker died after being hit by a piece of equipment that fell from a crane near Fort McMurray in July 2022.

It says the collective fine is to go to the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University and the University of Alberta to research rigging and hoisting practices.

It’s also to be used to develop industry tools, recommend safety standards and set up an occupation health and safety research institute for Alberta.

Companies Convicted and Fines (March 2025):

• Suncor Energy Services Inc.:Fined for failing to guard sharp edges on loads.
• Joy Global Canada Ltd.:Fined for failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker and inadequate training.
• NCSG Crane & Heavy Haul Services Ltd.:Fined for failure to conduct a hazard assessment for a new lifting process.

Key Details:

• Incident:A heavy equipment technician was killed when a pendant line fell from a crane at a maintenance pad.
• Sentencing:The $1.2 million in fines will fund research on rigging and hoisting practices at the University of Calgary, University of Alberta, and Mount Royal University.
• Context:This incident follows a pattern of fatalities at Suncor sites between 2014 and 2022.

The money seems to have been a proper deterrent to future machine guarding concerns. Mind you, there is no payment timeline and Suncor has had an unsatisfactory safety history so is change coming? Let us hope so.

HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.

We can also be reached at 

Ensure your workplace is a safe place.

Remember – In Canada, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”

‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.

Daniel L. Beal

CHSEP – Advanced Level
CEO & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.