Alberta: Paint Company Hit With Province's Largest Fine for Worker Injury

A provincial judge in Edmonton has sentenced Cloverdale Paint Inc. to pay $75,750 (U.S. $65,561) after the company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker. The amount marks the largest fine ever imposed for a nonfatal violation of Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Josh Cable

March 17, 2006

The sentence results from a provincial government investigation into a March 31, 2003, incident in which a Cloverdale Paint worker was seriously injured when his arm was caught in a paint mixer at a paint manufacturing facility in Edmonton.

Cloverdale Paint was fined $5,000 plus a $750 victim fine surcharge. In addition, the company was instructed to pay $70,000 to a health and safety-related organization.

To improve workplace safety, the government of Alberta says it has increased penalties for violations, hired additional safety officers, recognized the province's safest employers and promoted workplace safety awareness.

Exchange rate is as of March 16.