Summary
The Tsuut’ina Police Service and Lakeshore Regional Police Service are two of 10 police services to join the province in signing the Westray Memorandum of Understanding, which defines protocols for investigating serious workplace incidents.
The Lakeshore Regional Police Service comprises the First Nations that make up the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council: Driftpile, Sucker Creek, Kapawe’no, Swan River and Sawridge.
The MOU is named for an explosion that killed 26 underground miners on May 9, 1992 at the Westray Mine in Plymouth, N.S. A subsequent public inquiry blamed the mine management and government for what was deemed a preventable disaster.
In response to the Westray Mine disaster, the federal government amended the Criminal Code to allow criminal charges in serious cases of workplace fatalities or injuries. The law applies to anyone on a work site who directs the work of others.
The MOU will help investigators determine if criminal charges may be warranted in addition to occupational health and safety violations.
The Government of Alberta and police partners made the announcement on the National Day of Mourning, which commemorates workers who have been killed, injured or suffered illness due to workplace-related hazards and incidents. This year, the Day of Mourning is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Westray Mine disaster.
While Occupational Health and Safety and police officers currently coordinate when they investigate a serious workplace incident, the memorandum formally sets out protocols to assess the situation and determine if it involves potential OHS violations, criminal activity or both.
“By defining roles and protocols, police can focus on any criminal activity that may have occurred and investigators can ensure their time is spent on the incident investigation – and that benefits all Albertans,” said Marlin Degrand, assistant commissioner RCMP K Division and Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police representative.