Human Resources 101

Funds raised benefit safety organisations

Alberta courts sent a strong message to Alberta companies in 2008 that workplace health and safety must not be compromised. Penalties totalling more than $5 million against 22 companies surpass the 2007 total of $1.72 million against 12 companies.

“This government will continue working with industry, labour and safety associations to ensure our workplaces remain healthy and safe,” said Hector Goudreau, Minister of Employment and Immigration. “However, when all else fails and the law is broken, the courts take over and send the ultimate message. These sentences should remind employers that there will be consequences when they don’t meet their safety responsibilities.”

The percentage of penalties collected as alternate sentences has also increased. In 2007, 74 per cent of penalties were paid to safety organisations to provide training or to organisations that assist injured workers. To date in 2008, more than 88 per cent of the fines, nearly $4.5 million, are in alternate sentences with the largest awards going to the University of Alberta Engineering Safety and Risk Management Program ($345,000), Lakeland College ($300,000) and the Red Deer College/City of Red Deer ($300,000).