No decision on charges after fatal accident at Alberta oilsands site

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FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. -- Almost a year after two men were killed in an accident at an oilsands site north of Fort McMurray, there is still no decision on whether any charges will be laid in their deaths.

Hong Liang Liu, 33, an electrical engineer, and Genbao Ge, 27, a scaffolder, were killed April 24, 2007 when a roof collapsed in a large oil tank where they were working at the Canadian Natural Resources Limited project.

Both were non-union employees of Sinopec Shanghai Engineering Co. Canada Ltd.

Four other Chinese labourers were injured in the accident.

The on-site investigation wrapped up in the fall, and Barrie Harrison of Alberta Occupational Health and Safety says the file remains with Alberta Justice prosecutors.

He says they're allowed two years in which to lay charges, but he doesn't think it will take that long to make the decision.

Occupational Health and Safety has no authority or jurisdiction to tell Alberta Justice to expedite its investigation, Harrison added.

Alberta Justice won't lay charges "unless they have reasonable grounds, and they also want to know they have a reasonable likelihood of conviction," he said.

Copyright (c) 2007 The Canadian Press