Chinese Company Pleads Guilty in Deaths of Oil Sands Workers

Two foreign oil sands workers died and another five were injured when the roof of a tank they were working on collapsed. The Crown originally charged three companies, including a Chinese-owned company that challenged Canada’s jurisdiction over it and lost. That company, which was the employer of the victims, pleaded guilty to three OHS violations. Charges against the other defendants were withdrawn or stayed. The court is scheduled to sentence the company on Jan. 24, 2013. A joint submission has been made for a $1.5 million fine, the maximum penalty [SSEC Canada, Oct. 4, 2012].