'The ministry is reviewing the penalty associated with this incident and may request further review of it'
WorkSafeBC has fined the British Columbia government $783,068.26 for worker safety violations after untrained Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) staff took over traffic control duties near the Shambhala Music Festival in July 2024, according to a report.
The penalty approaches WorkSafe's statutory maximum for 2025 of $798,867.87.
During the festival, the Shambhala festival had hired a contractor to implement a traffic management plan. The contractor’s workers were responsible for directing vehicles near the festival’s "east gate," where traffic exited onto Highway 3.
However, two MoTI representatives who arrived at the scene deemed the contractor’s approach inadequate, CBC reported, citing a WorkSafeBC online summary and an inspection report.
When they instructed changes that the contractor deemed unsafe, the contractor withdrew its staff and reported the issue to WorkSafeBC. The MoTI employees then began directing traffic themselves, despite lacking the necessary qualifications and safety equipment, according to the report.
"WorkSafeBC determined the ministry workers were not trained [traffic control persons] and had been directing traffic from an unsafe position on the highway," the incident summary stated, reported CBC.
The agency also found that the provincial government had failed to provide proper "information, instruction, training, and supervision" to protect its workers, classifying the violations as "high-risk."
Ministry cites public safety concerns
MoTI acknowledged that its workers lacked proper traffic control training but justified their actions as necessary due to an urgent public safety risk.
However, the agency said that its workers only intervened "to ensure the safe flow of traffic on Highway 6 during the Shambhala Music Festival, responding to an emergency situation that quickly arose when a designated traffic control person from a private company failed to perform their duties, according to CBC.
A spokesperson stated that traffic leaving the music festival had caused a three-kilometre backlog, blocking emergency vehicle access and increasing the likelihood of drivers making unsafe decisions.
"Their actions were driven by the need to address the imminent safety risk to the travelling public," the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, a representative for the contractor disputed that the company had not fulfilled its responsibilities, asserting that their team had followed an approved traffic management plan. The contractor, which is not facing any penalties, took photos of the situation and reported it to WorkSafeBC.
WorkSafeBC’s report notes that the MoTI workers’ actions placed them in direct danger due to high traffic volumes. The agency’s findings confirm that the contractor withdrew its workers because it did not believe the work could be done safely under the ministry’s instructions.
The ministry is currently reviewing the fine and has indicated that it may request a formal review.
Following the fine, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has announced that it is reinforcing expectations around worker safety and emergency protocols.
"A detailed action plan is underway to ensure accountability and provide lessons for better handling of similar situations in the future," the ministry said.
WorkSafeBC confirmed that penalty funds will be deposited into its accident fund, which covers workplace injury costs. The agency calculates penalties based on employer payroll size and the severity of the violations.
Shambhala Music Festival is an annual electronic music and arts event held at the Salmo River Ranch, a 500-acre family-owned farm in B.C. Established in 1998, the festival features over 200 cutting-edge artists across six uniquely themed stages. The festival, they claim, also prioritizes harm reduction and safety, providing world-class services to ensure a secure experience for all participants.
