Three B.C. employers fail to put fall protection system in place

Companies fined for high-risk violations

Three B.C. employers fail to put fall protection system in place

Rai Star Custom Homes Ltd., Mrozinski Construction Ltd. and Dwight Gordon Fengstad / Roof Guys have joined the long list of Brisith Columbia employers who were fined for violating fall protection rules in the workplace.

Rai Star was fined $2,781.17 for violations it committed at its Burnaby workplace – a house under construction. 

WorkSafeBC inspected the site and found three workers standing on plywood sheeting adjacent to unguarded floor openings. 

No fall protection was in place, exposing workers to a fall risk greater than 3.2 m (10.5 ft.), according to the government agency.

In addition, the employer also failed to construct a stairway for worker access to the basement level. 

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

“The firm also failed to ensure that a stairway was provided to each floor before construction of the next floor was undertaken.”

Meanwhile, Mrozinski Construction was fined $2,604.34 after WorkSafeBC inspected its worksite – a two-storey house under construction in Esquimalt. 

The agency found three workers, one of whom was a representative of the firm, at the leading edge of the second floor. 

No fall protection system was in place, exposing the workers to a fall risk of about 4.1 m (13.5 ft.). 

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

Lastly, Dwight Gordon Fengstad / Roof Guys was fined $2,500.

The firm was re-roofing a building in Sidney when WorkSafeBC found two workers near the edge of the sloped roof, installing roofing materials. No form of fall protection was in place, exposing the workers to a fall risk greater than 6.1 m (20 ft.).

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

Previously, Lalli Development (2011) Ltd., 0568677 British Columbia Ltd., Kalan Constructions Ltd., Rainbow Siding Ltd., Global Gutters Ltd., Online Constructors Ltd. and AM PM Landscaping & Tree Service Ltd. were also fined for fall protection violations.

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