SaskPower receives largest workplace fine in province's history for 2020 deaths of employees in Weyburn

SaskPower was sentenced Friday morning in a Weyburn courtroom, receiving a record fine, after being found guilty of three workplace-safety related violations when two experienced employees were killed on the job in 2020.

The courtroom was filled with family members of the two employees along with workers from the union who represent the line workers.

SaskPower must pay a $840,000 fine, making it the biggest workplace fine in Saskatchewan's history to date. The previous biggest fine was handed to Manitoba based company Langenburg Redi-Mix who were fined $560,000 for a workplace death in 2017.

The SaskPower incident happened on Oct 8, 2020 when Scott Bill and Cole Crooks were working in Weyburn and fell to their deaths after the bucket they were in tipped over.

Bill and Crooks had been journeypersons for 19 years and had worked in a bucket many times before the incident.

Ken Hoste, the assistant business manager for IBEW 2067 said no court ruling will bring the pair home.

“We only hope to change, the safety culture at SaskPower and I hope this highlights that a top-down change is needed to the safety culture. When something like this happens, Weyburn is a close-knit community. These people are dedicated linemen. I hope it just helps family, friends, coworkers. I just hope, everybody can begin to get some closure from this,” Hoste said.

Hoste added that he didn’t come with expectations in terms of a number for the fine, but he said this work-place death has affected every single member in the province that they represent.

In a statement to CTV News, SaskPower said they continue to make the safety of their employees, contractors and the public its highest priority.

“We are always working to improve safety and learning at SaskPower, and this includes delivering the programs we created with employees through our Roadmap to Safety initiative,” the statement read.

The Crown also acknowledged Crooks and Bill as valued members of the company. They said their thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of the pair.

The fine must be paid immediately.

SaskPower said it is analyzing the court’s decision and the sentence that was handed down.