REGINA CONTRACTOR FINED MORE THAN $7,000 FOR SAFETY VIOLATIONS

Earth Drilling Co. Ltd. (Earth Drilling) has pleaded guilty to two charges under The Occupational Health and Safety Act and been fined $7,400 in Provincial Court.

The company was charged after a drilling helper, employed by Earth Drilling, was seriously injured while working at the Agrium mine site near Vanscoy on February 12, 2009. The worker was injured when he was caught and spun around by an unguarded rotating auger drill.

Earth Drilling pleaded guilty to one charge in connection with the incident and to a later charge for failure to comply with a Notice of Contravention, requiring the use of an effective safeguard.

A total of five charges against the company were stayed in court. Also, two charges against a driller employed by Earth Drilling and one charge against Golder Associates Ltd. were stayed.

OHS conducts approximately 4,000 worksite inspections annually to ensure standards are known, understood and enforced.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Bill Stovin
Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0926