Nfld. drilling company fined for 2013 accident

(Canadian OH&S News) — The Atlantic division of Cabo Drilling Corporation was recently fined for safety violations connected to a 2013 incident at the Duck Pond Mine Site (DPMS), a worksite located about 80 kilometres from Badger, Newfoundland, according to a Service NL press release dated May 20.

Cabo pleaded guilty to two violations of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Occupational Health and Safety Act in Grand Falls-Windsor Provincial Court. On April 11, the court sentenced the company to pay two fines of $20,000 each, plus an additional 15 per cent victim fine surcharge. Cabo was also ordered to contribute $10,000 to Service NL for public education.

According to Service NL, which is Newfoundland and Labrador’s government department for public and occupational health and safety, a drilling machine at the DPMS caught on fire in March 2013, causing severe burns to the hands and face of the male Cabo worker who was operating it. Following the accident, the oh&s division of Service NL conducted an investigation that eventually resulted in charges against the company in March 2013.

Cabo was charged with: failure to maintain a safe workplace and provide proper equipment, systems and tools that posed no risk to workers’ health; and failure to provide information, instruction, training and supervision sufficient to keep workers safe. Six additional charges against the corporation were later dropped, as part of a plea agreement.

Representatives with Cabo declined to comment to COHSN regarding the incident and the fines.

News reports have stated that a second man was injured in the accident, but that his burns were less severe and he was released from the hospital the following day.

Based in Springdale, Newfoundland, Cabo Drilling (Atlantic) Corp. has been providing drilling services to Canadian and international clients for more than 40 years. The company specializes in diamond core drilling, slimhole core drilling for oil and gas exploration and geotechnical drilling for engineering services and environmental assessments, according to information from Cabo’s website. The corporation’s national headquarters is in New Westminster, British Columbia.