Company Fined $210,000 After Worker’s Death at Alberta Oilsands Facility

You’ll find that Pacific Rim Industrial Insulations Ltd. received a $210,000 fine after employee Milo Sagmoen fell through a metal roof during maintenance work at Chemtrade’s Fort McMurray facility on June 8, 2023. The BC-based contractor pleaded guilty to failing to guarantee proper fall protection systems for work over three metres. Along with the fine, you’ll see the company faces 18 months of enhanced regulatory supervision, including unannounced inspections and mandatory safety reporting. The details below reveal the full scope of this workplace safety case.

Fatal Incident at Fort McMurray Oil Sands Site

While performing routine maintenance work on June 8, 2023, employee Milo Sagmoen fell through an opening in a metal roof at Chemtrade’s ammonium sulphate production facility within Syncrude’s Mildred Lake site, north of Fort McMurray.

You’ll find that Sagmoen was working for Pacific Rim Industrial Insulations Ltd., a Surrey, British Columbia-based contractor specializing in insulation, cladding, and asbestos abatement for chemical, oil, and natural gas sectors.

The company was tasked with replacing metal roofing at the facility when the tragic accident occurred.

Sagmoen’s death highlighted critical safety protocol failures, specifically the absence of proper fall protection systems.

The fatal accident exposed serious gaps in workplace safety measures, particularly the lack of required fall protection equipment.

The incident took place at a height where workers faced a fall risk of three metres or more, requiring mandatory safety harnesses and travel restraint systems under provincial occupational health and safety regulations.

Safety Violations and Legal Charges

Following Milo Sagmoen’s death, authorities launched an investigation that resulted in four occupational health and safety charges against Pacific Rim Industrial Insulations Ltd. The company ultimately pleaded guilty to one primary charge while three others were withdrawn by the Crown.

The core safety violation you’ll find most significant:

1. Failure to guarantee travel restraint system use – Workers weren’t required to use safety harnesses where fall risks exceeded three metres
2. Inadequate fall protection enforcement – The company didn’t properly implement mandatory safety protocols
3. Insufficient hazard communication – Employees weren’t adequately informed about fall dangers on the worksite
4. Violation of OHS Code requirements – The company breached provincial occupational health and safety regulations

These charges highlight critical gaps in workplace safety protocols that contributed to this preventable tragedy.

Court Ruling and Financial Penalties

After pleading guilty to the primary safety violation charge, Pacific Rim Industrial Insulations Ltd. faced significant financial consequences in the Fort McMurray court.

You’ll find the company received a substantial $210,000 fine, which included a mandatory 20% victim fine surcharge as part of Alberta’s penalty structure.

Beyond the monetary punishment, the court imposed 18 months of enhanced regulatory supervision on Pacific Rim.

Beyond the financial penalty, Pacific Rim faces 18 months of heightened regulatory oversight to monitor their safety compliance practices.

This means you can expect increased oversight and monitoring of the company’s safety practices during this period.

The Crown withdrew three additional charges related to Milo Sagmoen’s death as part of the plea agreement.

Both Pacific Rim and the Crown retain the right to appeal this decision within 30 days, though neither has indicated plans to do so currently.

Enhanced Regulatory Supervision Requirements

As part of the court’s ruling, Pacific Rim Industrial Insulations Ltd. must now operate under heightened scrutiny from Alberta’s occupational health and safety regulators for the next 18 months.

This enhanced supervision represents a significant accountability measure following Milo Sagmoen’s fatal fall through a roof opening at the Syncrude facility.

The company’s enhanced regulatory supervision likely includes:

1. Regular safety inspections conducted without advance notice at all active worksites
2. Mandatory safety reporting requiring detailed documentation of fall protection procedures and equipment usage
3. Compliance audits examining the company’s adherence to occupational health and safety protocols
4. Training verification ensuring all workers receive proper fall protection education and certification

You’ll find this supervision period serves as both punishment and prevention, designed to prevent future workplace fatalities in Alberta’s industrial sector.

Company Background and Industry Context

Pacific Rim Industrial Insulations Ltd. operates as a specialized contractor serving Canada’s energy sector from its headquarters in Surrey, British Columbia, with an additional office in southeast Edmonton.

You’ll find the company focuses on insulation, cladding, and asbestos abatement services specifically for chemical, oil, and natural gas industries.

The fatal incident occurred at Chemtrade’s ammonium sulphate production plant, which sits within Syncrude’s Mildred Lake site north of Fort McMurray.

While Pacific Rim was working as a contractor at the facility, Chemtrade has clarified that the two companies aren’t affiliated.

The energy sector’s complex industrial environment requires contractors to navigate multiple safety protocols while working at various production facilities throughout Alberta’s oil sands region.

How Taylor Janis Workplace Lawyers Can Help

When workplace accidents result in serious injuries or fatalities, workers and their families often face complex legal challenges that require specialized expertise in employment and occupational health law.

Taylor Janis workplace lawyers understand the devastating impact these incidents have on families and can provide vital legal guidance during difficult times.

Our employment law expertise across Alberta and BC includes:

1. Workers’ compensation claims – We’ll help you navigate the complex application process and guarantee you receive maximum benefits.
2. Wrongful dismissal protection – We’ll protect your employment rights if you’re terminated after reporting safety violations.
3. Workplace safety advocacy – We’ll help you understand your rights regarding unsafe working conditions.
4. Family legal support – We’ll guide families through available legal options following workplace fatalities.

PRIVACY NOTICE:  Any information you provide to our office — whether your personal information or employment/employer details — will be treated as strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to your employer or to any other third party. So, please be reassured that you can talk openly to our capable Intake Paralegals worry free. Fill out an Online Inquiry or call us now, your information will be in safe and helping hands.

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