A road construction company must pay a $295,000 fine after pleading guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker who died nearly three years ago.

The penalties stem from an incident at a road construction site in Newell County on July 23, 2021. A worker suffocated while cleaning a gravel bin while the conveyor belt was running.

Smith Group Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiary Brooks Asphalt & Aggregate Ltd. were jointly charged with 15 violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Last week, Brooks Asphalt & Aggregate Ltd. pleaded guilty to one count of the Health and Safety at Work Act, namely failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker.

Other charges against the company – and all charges against Smith Group Holdings Ltd. – were dropped.

Brooks Asphalt & Aggregate Ltd. must pay a total of $295,000 in penalties, including a $1,000 fine.

“As part of a creative effort, $244,000 will be provided to the Alberta Construction Safety Association to develop a three-dimensional incident reenactment video, a series of educational videos, a toolbox talk guide and a safety session open to all industries,” the province said in a news release.

“The remaining $50,000 will be provided to the Brooks Fire Department to purchase new rescue equipment.”

Both the company and the public prosecutor have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or sentence.