Energy source not controlled, workers not properly protected from asbestos
Honghot Enterprises of Vancouver has been fined $20,000.
This firm was conducting asbestos abatement at a pre-1990 house slated for demolition. WorkSafeBC inspected the site and observed that drywall inside the house had been removed before power to the house had been disconnected and a lockout system implemented. The firm failed to isolate and effectively control an energy source, a high-risk violation.
At a subsequent inspection, WorkSafeBC observed that the abatement work area did not have poly sheets covering the floor and that duct tape, an identified asbestos-containing material (ACM), was on the ground. Furthermore, a doorway and windows in work areas were not sealed to prevent the release of asbestos fibres. WorkSafeBC issued a stop-work order. The firm failed to take necessary precautions to protect workers before beginning work that disturbed ACMs. This was a repeated and high-risk violation.
Source: WorkSafeBC
