Latest news with #SamirSubedi
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sofina Foods Inc. to pay $330K penalty toward safety program after Edmonton worker's death
An Ontario-based multinational food company was "significantly negligent" in safety failures that led to the death of an Edmonton worker, a judge says. Justice Michèle Collinson sentenced Sofina Foods Inc. on Thursday in Edmonton Court of Justice after the company pleaded guilty to one Occupational Health and Safety Act charge in the March 2023 death of Samir Subedi. Subedi, 32, died after a coworker found him unresponsive during his shift as a superintendent at Sofina's south Edmonton food processing plant. Collinson said Subedi's death was easily preventable, with workplace risks created by the company's "incompetence, inattention, or a combination of both." After going into a smokehouse to monitor some meat products drying inside, Subedi got trapped as temperatures rose to 92 C. An emergency handle to open the smokehouse doors from the inside had broken off, and despite maintenance requests that went back to May 2022, it hadn't been replaced — in violation of both provincial worker safety standards and Sofina's own policies. Instead, a makeshift door stopper was installed that could only be activated from the outside. There's no evidence that Subedi, who'd been at Sofina for about 11 months, had been trained on how to use either the emergency handle or the doorstopper. "It was not difficult to see that there was a risk of an accident in the smokehouse … given the lack of safeguards and training," Collinson said. "The fact there had been no incident prior is more an operation of luck than anything else." The judge accepted a proposal for a creative sentencing order that sees the company pay a $330,000 penalty, which will go toward funding a food worker safety training program run by the Alberta Food Processors Association. The training will be tailored to address the increased dangers of confined spaces such as smokehouses to help prevent similar deaths in the future. Collinson noted that before the company was charged last year, they had already made voluntary "direct reparations" to ensure Subedi's wife and children could cover the cost of their mortgage. She said Sofina has expressed genuine remorse. Since Subedi's death, the company has added new warning labels to smokehouses telling employees not to enter while they're running, and to check for the presence of the inner emergency handle — if it's missing or broken, they're instructed not to go inside at all. Collinson called the level of workplace deaths in Alberta "unacceptably high." She addressed part of her decision directly to Subedi's family. "Your loss and the grief causes pain and suffering, and the reality is that the process in court does very little to alleviate that. Some things just cannot be fixed; they can only be carried," she said. "We don't send our loved ones off to work thinking that this is the last time that we're going to see them." The remaining 25 OHS charges laid against Sofina Foods Inc. were withdrawn.
CBC
15 hours ago
- CBC
Sofina Foods Inc. to pay $330K penalty toward safety program after Edmonton worker's death
Social Sharing An Ontario-based multinational food company was "significantly negligent" in safety failures that led to the death of an Edmonton worker, a judge says. Justice Michèle Collinson sentenced Sofina Foods Inc. on Thursday in Edmonton Court of Justice after the company pleaded guilty to one Occupational Health and Safety Act charge in the March 2023 death of Samir Subedi. Subedi, 32, died after a coworker found him unresponsive during his shift as a superintendent at Sofina's south Edmonton food processing plant. Collinson said Subedi's death was easily preventable, with workplace risks created by the company's "incompetence, inattention, or a combination of both." After going into a smokehouse to monitor some meat products drying inside, Subedi got trapped as temperatures rose to 92 C. An emergency handle to open the smokehouse doors from the inside had broken off, and despite maintenance requests that went back to May 2022, it hadn't been replaced — in violation of both provincial worker safety standards and Sofina's own policies. Instead, a makeshift door stopper was installed that could only be activated from the outside. There's no evidence that Subedi, who'd been at Sofina for about 11 months, had been trained on how to use either the emergency handle or the doorstopper. "It was not difficult to see that there was a risk of an accident in the smokehouse … given the lack of safeguards and training," Collinson said. "The fact there had been no incident prior is more an operation of luck than anything else." The judge accepted a proposal for a creative sentencing order that sees the company pay a $330,000 penalty, which will go toward funding a food worker safety training program run by the Alberta Food Processors Association. The training will be tailored to address the increased dangers of confined spaces such as smokehouses to help prevent similar deaths in the future. Collinson noted that before the company was charged last year, they had already made voluntary "direct reparations" to ensure Subedi's wife and children could cover the cost of their mortgage. She said Sofina has expressed genuine remorse. Since Subedi's death, the company has added new warning labels to smokehouses telling employees not to enter while they're running, and to check for the presence of the inner emergency handle — if it's missing or broken, they're instructed not to go inside at all. Collinson called the level of workplace deaths in Alberta "unacceptably high." She addressed part of her decision directly to Subedi's family. "Your loss and the grief causes pain and suffering, and the reality is that the process in court does very little to alleviate that. Some things just cannot be fixed; they can only be carried," she said. "We don't send our loved ones off to work thinking that this is the last time that we're going to see them." The remaining 25 OHS charges laid against Sofina Foods Inc. were withdrawn.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Company to pay $330K after Edmonton worker trapped in smokehouse, dies in 92 C heat
Sofina Foods pleaded guilty in the death of an Edmonton worker who became trapped inside a smokehouse in March 2023. A commercial food processing company has been ordered to pay $330,000 after one of its workers became trapped in a smokehouse and died. Ontario-based Sofina Foods Inc. was directed by a judge Thursday to put the money toward a workplace training program. Justice Michele Collinson told court it needed to be a significant penalty to match the gravity of what happened, but said, 'There is no amount of money, or any sentence, that can make up for the loss of life.' Collinson noted there were mitigating factors, including the company paying the mortgage for the victim's family and arranging to continue their health and dental coverage. Including other benefits, court heard the company spent $500,000 to help the family. The decision comes a day after Sofina pleaded guilty to one workplace safety violation while the remaining 25 other charges against the company were withdrawn. Sofina was charged after 32-year-old Samir Subedi died in March 2023. Court heard he had gone to check the temperature of the gas-fired smokehouse, which had been loaded the night before with meat. Due to problems with the door's safety mechanisms, Subedi became trapped in the smokehouse as the temperature soared to 92 C, and he died of heat exposure. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025. Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
Sofina Foods to pay $330K after Edmonton worker trapped in hot smokehouse dies
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook A commercial food processing company has been ordered to pay $330,000 after one of its workers became trapped in a smokehouse and died. Ontario-based Sofina Foods Inc. was directed by a judge on Thursday to put the money toward a workplace training program. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The decision comes a day after Sofina pleaded guilty to one workplace safety violation while the remaining 25 other charges against the company were withdrawn. Sofina was charged after 32-year-old Samir Subedi died in March 2023. Court heard he had gone to check the temperature of the gas-fired smokehouse, which had been loaded the night before with meat. Due to problems with the door's safety mechanisms, Subedi became trapped in the smokehouse as the temperature soared to 92 C, and he died of heat exposure. Story continues below advertisement — More to come…
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Company to pay $330K after Edmonton worker trapped in smokehouse, dies in 92 C heat
EDMONTON – A commercial food processing company has been ordered to pay $330,000 after one of its workers became trapped in a smokehouse and died. Ontario-based Sofina Foods Inc. was directed by a judge today to put the money toward a workplace training program. The decision comes a day after Sofina pleaded guilty to one workplace safety violation while the remaining 25 other charges against the company were withdrawn. Sofina was charged after 32-year-old Samir Subedi died in March 2023. Court heard he had gone to check the temperature of the gas-fired smokehouse, which had been loaded the night before with meat. Due to problems with the door's safety mechanisms, Subedi became trapped in the smokehouse as the temperature soared to 92 C, and he died of heat exposure. More coming.
