Trinidad Drilling Ltd. made its first appearance in Estevan Provincial Court on Monday, facing two charges under the Saskatchewan Employment Act and its Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.
The charges were sworn on Jan. 2, 19 months after the alleged incident took place near Torquay, on June 4, 2017. Trinidad has operated several drilling rigs in the Torquay area in recent years.
The first charge is 鈥渇ail in the provision and maintenance of plant, systems of work and working environments to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of the employer鈥檚 workers as required by Section 12(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996, resulting in the serious injury of a worker, namely Dakota Treso, contrary to Subsection 3-78(g) and 3-19 of the Saskatchewan Employment Act.鈥�
The second charge was that Trinidad failed 鈥渢o ensure that no worker is permitted to perform work unless the worker has been trained, and has had sufficient experience, to perform the work safely鈥︹�� with respect to the same act, resulting in serious injury to Dakota Treso.
Lawyer Peter Bergbusch of Millar Thomson appeared by phone for the defence. He asked for the disclosure of evidence from the Crown, and that the matter be adjourned to March 18. Judge Lane Wiegers granted the adjournment.
