WorkSafeBC issued penalty for 'repeated and high-risk violation'
The workplace health and safety agency in British Columbia, WorkSafeBC, has imposed a fine of more than $43,000 on VPAC Construction Group, a Vancouver-based construction company, for a "high-risk and repeated violation" at a job site in Victoria.
The penalty was issued on April 20 after a safety officer from the agency witnessed a worker installing sheeting on the roof of a residential building without any fall-protection equipment.
In a statement, WorkSafeBC highlighted the severity of the violation, stating, "No fall protection was in place, exposing the worker to a fall risk of about 6.7 meters (22 ft.). The firm failed to ensure fall protection was used, a repeated and high-risk violation."
Following the violation, work at the construction site was temporarily halted until a proper fall arrest system could be established, as stated in the inspection report for the property. The work was being done at Amica Somerset House, which is a retirement home situated along the Victoria waterfront.
According to the report, the worker was on a gable roof with a 30-degree pitch, approximately 6.7 meters above a paved driveway when the violation occurred. Such incidents highlight the risks faced by construction workers in the province.
WorkSafeBC says construction workers in British Columbia have an injury rate of 3.37 injuries per 100 workers, surpassing the provincial average of 2.24 injuries per 100 workers.
The agency further disclosed alarming statistics from 2021, stating that over 7,000 loss-time injuries were reported in the construction industry, including 1,592 serious injuries.
Moreover, the non-use of fall protection has been a persistent issue in the sector, resulting in 5,893 injuries over the past five years, with 28 of those cases tragically leading to fatalities. In 2022 alone, WorkSafeBC issued 164 administrative penalties totaling more than $1 million to employers for the lack of fall protection.
WorkSafeBC emphasizes that the purpose of these monetary penalties is to motivate employers to prioritize the safety of their workers and comply with health and safety regulations. The agency aims to ensure that workplaces remain safe environments for all employees.
