Potash Company Fined For Serious Injury To Worker

Agrium Inc. has been fined $490,000 after the company pleaded guilty to one count under Occupational Health and Safety regulations in Saskatoon Provincial Court on October 31, 2018.

Agrium pleaded guilty to contravening clause 12(a) of the regulations (being an employer at a place of employment, failed in the provision and maintenance of plant, system of work and working environments that ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety and welfare at work of the employer’s workers, resulting in a serious injury to a worker). The company was fined $350,000 plus a surcharge of $140,000, for a total of $490,000 in fines. One additional charge was withdrawn. The incident occurred at Agrium’s mine near Vanscoy on August 21, 2016. When a conveyor belt was started, a worker was struck in the abdomen by a cable that was not secured. The worker was seriously injured.