Former Co-op grocery store manager Kyle Kaiser is now facing a charge of criminal negligence causing bodily harm following an incident where a teenage employee suffered severe carbon monoxide poisoning while working in the meat department part-time. The event took place on Oct. 23, 2023, in Canora, Sask., located approximately 235 kilometers northeast of Regina. The victim, 14-year-old Wil Krotenko, was instructed to clean a confined space in the meat department using a gas pressure washer intended for outdoor use.
The Krotenko family reached out to Go Public shortly after the incident, expressing dissatisfaction with what they perceived as the Co-op’s inadequate response and the perceived lack of serious repercussions after the Occupational Health and Safety investigation. Concerns were raised as another teenage employee had fallen ill after using the same gas pressure washer the day before Wil’s poisoning, as evidenced by text messages exchanged between a supervisor and the employee.
Kelly Krotenko, Wil’s mother, acknowledged the initiation of a criminal charge against Kaiser but emphasized that she believed both the store’s owner and the establishment itself should be held accountable for the incident. Despite attempts to obtain a comment from the store’s owner, no response has been received.
In a previous communication with Go Public, Gateway Co-op acknowledged the severity of the incident, labeling it as a “terrible incident with potential for graver consequences,” and affirmed their commitment to preventing a recurrence. The Co-op was directed to rectify violations within 11 weeks but did not face any monetary penalties or other sanctions.
Sean Tucker, an occupational health and safety professor at the University of Regina, highlighted the rarity of such charges in Saskatchewan and underscored the importance of employers taking their responsibilities seriously to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Subsequent to the carbon monoxide exposure, Wil was initially treated at a hospital in Canora before being transferred to Alberta for further medical attention. He underwent extensive treatment in a hyperbaric chamber to mitigate the high levels of carbon monoxide in his bloodstream, with ongoing health complications persisting post-exposure.
Kaiser has been apprehended and subsequently released, with a court appearance scheduled for Oct. 2 in Canora.