26 charges laid after worker trapped, fatally burned inside Edmonton smokehouse

Warning: This story contains distressing details.

More than a year after a man was trapped and fatally burned inside an Edmonton smokehouse facility, 26 workplace safety charges have been laid in his death.

Meat manufacturing company Sofina Foods Inc. is facing charges under Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety Act in the death of Samir Subedi, 33. 

Subedi was injured on March 2, 2023, at the Sofina Foods facility at 9620 56th Ave. in south Edmonton. He died later that day after being treated in the University of Alberta Hospital's burn unit.

The charges laid Nov. 14 laid against Sofina Foods, his employer, reveal new, disturbing details about how he died. 

According to the charges, Subedi, who was a superintendent at the plant, left his workstation to check the temperature in the smokehouse.

He became trapped inside the smokehouse. He was later found unconscious by another worker on site.  

According to the charges, Subedi suffered fatal injuries from exposure to the intense thermal heat in the smokehouse.

The charges allege that the smokehouse door could not be opened from the inside, trapping Subedi inside. 

In a statement, the province declined to comment on the investigation as the case is now before the courts. 

"It is always tragic when a worker dies on the job," government officials said in the statement.  "Our government's goal is to have all workers return home healthy and safe after every workday."

The charges include failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker, failing to adequately maintain equipment, and failing to ensure Subedi was suitably trained to work in the confined space of the smokehouse.  

The charges allege the company failed to ensure doors of the smokehouse could be opened without substantial effort, were in good working order and could be reliably opened from the inside.

Investigators allege the company failed to complete mandatory hazard assessments and failed to ensure the smokehouse equipment was tested, adjusted and adequately maintained.

According to the charges, training for work in confined spaces was lacking, lighting on site was poor and there was no communication system set up for workers in case they became trapped inside the smokehouse. 

A spokesperson for Sofina Foods, an international manufacturer of meat products based in Markham, Ont., said the company fully co-operated with Alberta's OHS investigation team and is now in a formal court process.

"For that reason, we are not commenting further at this time," the spokesperson said in an email.

"Our people are the heart of our business, and our plant superintendent, Samir, was an important part of our Sofina family.

"His passing profoundly affected his family, our team, and our community. We continue to be concerned for them and their well-being."

The company is expected to make its first court appearance in Edmonton in early January. 

In the weeks following Subedi's death, his family had repeatedly called for improved transparency in the workplace safety investigation, and answers on what went wrong.

Subedi was born in Nepal and worked in India before coming to Canada five years before his death. He completed his master's in nutrition and food science at the University of Alberta and then went to work at Sofina Foods.

His family described him as a family man and caring friend. He left behind his pregnant wife and a young child.

Last month, a 19-year-old Nova Scotia woman was found inside an industrial bakery oven at the Walmart store where she worked in Halifax's west end. Workplace safety officials continue to investigate.