Workplace safety violators warned: Lukaszuk

Companies that violate workplace safety laws can expect tough treatment from the province, Employment Minister Thomas Lukaszuk warns.

The provincial government, whichhas come under fire recently for rarely prosecuting companies for safety breaches that have been linked to fatalities,laid two workplace safety charges Thursday against Canadian Natural Resources and seven counts against Clayton Construction of Lloydminster in connection with the death of Rick Boughner, 47.

Boughner, a father of three,was killed in September 2008 when his floating excavator tipped over and sank to the bottom of a tailings pond.

"The system works," Lukaszuk told reporters on Friday.

"If we find that employers develop a habit of breaching occupational health and safety standards, enforcement will be escalated based on a clearly laid out ladder all the way to the level contempt of court.

"As you can see, charges are laid and the hammer is coming down."

Canadian Natural Resources now faces safety charges in four separate cases involving the deaths of four workers and the serious injury of a fifth, according to Alberta Employment.