Firm failed to ensure work conformed to requirements of utility owner
Blue Pine Enterprises of Langley, B.C. has been fined $67,631.
This firm was conducting landscaping activities that involved replacing sand fill with topsoil for plant bedding. WorkSafeBC inspected the site after an excavator the firm had been operating damaged a gas line and caused a discharge of natural gas.
WorkSafeBC determined that the mechanical excavator had made contact with a stub that protruded from the gas line. The firm had not exposed the stub by hand digging as required before beginning mechanical excavation work.
The firm failed to ensure that excavation work done in proximity to an underground utility service conformed to the requirements of the utility owner. This was a high-risk violation.
Source: WorkSafeBC
