Three firms have to pay nearly $16,000 in total
Three more British Columbia employers were fined for asbestos-related violations in the workplace.
Craig's Bakery Ltd. – which operates a bakery and deli – was fined $8,484.63 for violations it committed in its Kamloops worksite.
First, WorkSafeBC inspected the workplace and found a mixing machine in operation that lacked a safeguard. The agency issued a stop-use order.
“The firm failed to ensure machinery was fitted with adequate safeguards to protect workers from accessing hazardous points of operation, a repeated and high-risk violation,” said WorkSafeBC.
During a second inspection, WorkSafeBC determined that sanding and grinding of flooring tiles, a confirmed asbestos-containing material (ACM), had taken place in food preparation areas.
Despite this, the firm conducted no risk assessment and implemented no safe work procedures for asbestos work.
“The firm failed to take the necessary precautions to protect workers before allowing work that would disturb ACMs, a high-risk violation,” said WorkSafeBC.
Focus Remediation Ltd. was also fined $5,000 after WorkSafeBC inspected two worksites where the firm had conducted asbestos abatement and issued clearance letters stating all asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) had been contained or removed.
At the first site, WorkSafeBC issued a stop-work order after observing stucco, a confirmed ACM, in debris as well as still attached to the house.
At the second site, the building had been demolished. WorkSafeBC observed vinyl flooring and drywall, both confirmed ACMs, in the debris. The agency issued the firm a stop-operations order.
“The firm failed to ensure hazardous materials were safely contained or removed, and failed to ensure a qualified person confirmed in writing that hazardous materials were safely contained or removed. These were both repeated and high-risk violations,” said WorkSafeBC.
Also, Akal Demolition & Excavation Ltd. was fined $2,500 after it conducted post-abatement demolition of a house in Surrey.
WorkSafeBC inspected the site and observed vinyl flooring and drywall, both suspected asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), in the debris. WorkSafeBC issued a stop-work order. Subsequent testing confirmed both the flooring and drywall as ACMs.
“The firm failed to ensure all hazardous materials had been safely contained or removed before beginning demolition work, a repeated and high-risk violation,” said WorkSafeBC.
Previously, Onni Contracting Ltd., Tede Construction Ltd., Leader Hazmat Ltd., HLC Holdings Inc., Sunrick Development Ltd. and Angus Environmental were also fined over asbestos-related violations in the workplace.
