Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Birchcliff Energy fined $312,500 over worker's death at frack site
Fine or penalty
Birchcliff Energy Ltd. pleaded guilty and was fined $312,500 for failing to ensure the safety of a worker, David Olesiuk, 43, who died while gathering water samples at a hydraulic frac pond near Baytree, Alberta on Oct. 10, 2023. The Crown withdrew 17 remaining charges, and the fine was split between Energy Safety Canada and Saddle Hills Protective Services for water surface safety and rescue training.
Source excerpt
Birchcliff Energy Ltd. has been fined $312,500 after admitting it failed to ensure the safety of a worker who died on an oil and gas site three years ago.
David Olesiuk, 43, was gathering water samples at a hydraulic frac pond when he fell into a reservoir near Baytree in Saddle Hills County, approximately 100 kilometres northwest of Grande Prairie, on Oct. 10, 2023.
As part of the sentencing in the Grande Prairie Court of Justice this week, the Crown formally withdrew the 17 remaining charges and designated the fines be split between two groups: Energy Safety Canada (ESC) and Saddle Hills Protective Services.