Released on March 15, 2010
Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (PCS) pled guilty to one charge under The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 and was fined a total of $420,000.
PCS pled guilty to contravening section 3(a) of the Act for failure to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all of the employer's workers.
Total fines include $300,000, the maximum penalty allowable under OHS legislation, and a maximum victim fine surcharge of $120,000. This is only the second time the maximum penalty under occupational health and safety legislation has been applied in Saskatchewan.
These charges were the result of the investigation by Occupational Health Officers into the death of Robert Tkach, who died while working at the Lanigan Potash Mine.
OHS conducts approximately 4,000 workplace inspections annually and provides training to more than 4,000 employer and worker representatives each year on their safety responsibilities.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Lisa Danyluk
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7791