The City of Prince Albert has taken significant steps to enhance safety protocols following an incident in July 2024 that resulted in an employee injury and a substantial penalty. According to a recent announcement, the city admitted to a health and safety breach, leading to a fine of $92,857 plus a court surcharge of $37,142.
The violation arose from an event where a worker was lubricating the rear box of a dump truck. During the process of elevating the box for maintenance, two concrete blocks shifted, causing the tailgate to open unexpectedly. Subsequently, the blocks dislodged from the truck, striking the worker. The severity of the worker’s injuries was not disclosed in the release.
Don Wood, the city’s health, safety, and environment coordinator, stated in the release that while the past incident could not be altered, valuable lessons had been learned to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The city has since implemented various enhancements to bolster safety practices, including tailored job hazard assessments, updated toolbox safety meetings, training on creating safe operating protocols, and the introduction of new safety procedures. Additionally, a new safety management software is being introduced to enhance monitoring and auditing of safety compliance.
Furthermore, audits have been carried out to ensure adherence to the revised safety protocols, and a dedicated occupational health and safety committee has been established at the worksite. The city emphasized the importance of continuous commitment from all employees to uphold safety standards and prevent workplace incidents.