SaskPower appealing court order to pay $840K fine for deaths of 2 workers
Crown corporation fined last month after 2 men working on power lines fell to their deaths in 2020
A Saskatchewan Crown corporation is challenging a fine it's been ordered to pay in the deaths of two of its workers.
In October, a Weyburn court gave SaskPower a $840,000 fine for an October 2020 workplace accident.
The accident involved two workers with 19 years of experience, Scott Bill and Cole Crooks, according to court documents. The two were working on power lines and fell to their deaths after the bucket they were in tipped over in October 2020.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 2067 represented the two men. Union representative Ken Hoste said after the court ordered fine — believed to be among the largest workplace injury fines issued in recent history Canada — that he hoped the case would raise more awareness about the need for stringent safety procedures.
SaskPower confirmed in an email to CBC news on Friday that it has filed an appeal in Weyburn.
"This does not diminish the great loss of Scott Bill and Cole Crooks, who were valued members of our SaskPower family," an email from a spokesperson for the Crown corporation said.
"Their loss continues to be felt by us all, and our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of these two employees."
With files from Shlok Talati