Steelworkers React to Agrium Fine for Failing to Provide Safe Workplace
SASKATOON, Nov. 1, 2018 /CNW/ - Reacting to news that Agrium Inc. has been ordered to pay a total of $490,000 in fines and victim impact surcharges after pleading guilty to a charge of failing to provide a safe workplace, the United Steelworkers (USW) is warning other employers that the union will aggressively pursue cases of workplace health and safety failings.
The potash company's guilty plea related to an incident in August 2016 at the Vanscoy mine that left a USW member with significant head and abdominal injuries.
This occurred only two weeks after USW member Chad Wiklun was killed while working in the same mine.
Crown prosecutors noted Agrium's disturbing record of ignoring and contravening safety rules. The company has been issued notices of contravention 27 separate times since 2005.
"While this appears to be the largest fine in Saskatchewan history for workplace safety violations, it needs to be followed up with real action to hold Agrium accountable and ensure that there are no future lives lost or changed forever," says Darrin Kruger, USW Staff Representative and former President of USW Local 7552.
"There still has been no justice and no accountability for the death of Chad Wiklun. It's simply unconscionable that Agrium has not been made to answer for that terrible tragedy," Kruger says.
The United Steelworkers has been at the forefront of fighting for safer workplaces and is committed to pursuing cases of workplace health and safety failings. The union launched a national campaign, Stop The Killing, Enforce The Law, which aims to ensure that the Westray Law is being enforced where appropriate.
SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)
Darrin Kruger, USW Staff Representative, 306-717-8747, [email protected]
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