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(Image Credit: Everything GP Staff)
By Erika Rolling
Court

OHS charges company over $300K in penalties for 2023 worker death near Spirit River

Aug 20, 2026 | 2:46 PM

A Calgary-based oil and gas company has pleaded guilty in Grande Prairie court to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety Act stemming from a fatal incident nearly three years ago.

Birchcliff Energy Ltd. was charged for failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker, after a worker died after they fell into a reservoir while obtaining water samples at an oil and gas site near Spirit River on Oct. 10, 2023.

All remaining charges against Birchcliff Energy Ltd. were withdrawn.

The company has been court-ordered under a creative sentence to pay $200,000 to Energy Safety Canada to develop an industry awareness and training program focused on managing serious injury and fatality risks in water surface operations.

The company has also been court-ordered to pay $112,500 to Saddle Hills County Protective Services to develop surface ice water rescue training and support the purchase of ice water rescue equipment.

The company and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalty.

by Erika Rolling