Fall protection violations result in fines for four B.C. employers

Employers tasked to pay five-figure sum

Fall protection violations result in fines for four B.C. employers

WorkSafeBC has penalized another four British Columbia employers over fall protection violations.

The four employers have to pay $23,675.02 overall.

0568677 British Columbia Ltd., also known as Trout Creek Enterprises, was charged $11,175.02 for violations it committed at a house under construction in Eagle Bay.

During an inspection, WorkSafeBC found two workers on the second level of a scaffold system, with no guardrails or other fall protection in place. This exposed the workers to a fall risk of up to 7.6 m (25 ft.).

“The firm failed to ensure fall protection was used, a repeated and high-risk violation,” according to the agency.

Cole R. Ross/Boss Roofing was also fined $5,000. This firm was doing roofing work on a two-storey building in West Vancouver when WorkSafeBC inspected the site.

The agency found four workers, including a representative of the firm, on the 4:12 sloped roof, with no fall protection in place, exposing the workers to a fall risk of up to 8.5 m (28 ft.).

“The firm failed to ensure fall protection was used, a repeated and high-risk violation. The firm also failed to co-operate with a WorkSafeBC officer,” according to the agency.

D.A.D.S. Homes & General Contracting Inc. was also tasked to pay $5,000 for violations.

The company was working on the construction of a two-storey in Campbell River when WorkSafeBC inspected the site.

It observed one worker on the 5:12 sloped roof with no form of fall protection was in place, exposing the worker to a fall risk of about 7.6 m (25 ft.).

The firm failed to ensure fall protection was used, a repeated and high-risk violation.

Lastly, Hanspal Framing Ltd. was fined $2,500 for violations it committed while working on the construction of a new duplex in Vancouver.

WorkSafeBC inspected the site and observed two workers, one of whom was a representative of the firm, installing sheathing on the 10:12 sloped roof.

While the workers were wearing fall protection harnesses, they were not connected to lifelines. No other form of fall protection was in place, exposing the workers to a fall risk greater than 7.6 m (25 ft.).

“The firm failed to ensure fall protection was used, and failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety. These were both repeated and high-risk violations,” said WorkSafeBC.

Other employers previously charged for fall protection violations in the workplace include Kalan Constructions Ltd., Rainbow Siding Ltd., Global Gutters Ltd., Online Constructors Ltd. and AM PM Landscaping & Tree Service Ltd.

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