In the aftermath of a workplace fatality east of Coaldale, Alta., a crane and rigging company will pay $350,000. A man was removing a condenser unit on a roof on July 17, 2024, when he fell through. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) investigated following the death and charges were laid in connection with the incident. On Nov. 9, Zero Gravity Crane & Rigging entered a guilty plea to the charge of failing to ensure a worker was protected from falling through a hole in a work surface. The provincial government says the other charges were withdrawn. The company was fined $225,000. It was also ordered to pay $125,000 to the Lethbridge, Holy Spirit and Palliser school divisions. The province says the second amount is “to provide fall protection and mobile aerial platform safety training for high school students participating in Registered Apprenticeship Program trades.” The company has 30 days to appeal if it chooses to. Zero Gravity Crane and Rigging is a Lethbridge-based company.
