Foundation coating vapour ignited during spraying application
A Manitoba employer was fined after one worker suffered significant injuries at the workplace.
The incident happened on June 23, 2020, when a worker employed by Prairieview Custom Basements Inc. was working in an excavated area at a residential property.
The worker was applying Rub-R-Wall foundation coating to a foundation that had been recently torch-treated to remove moisture.
After spraying the coating for several minutes, the vapour ignited and caused an explosion. This resulted in a worker sustaining significant injuries.
After an investigation by Workplace Safety and Health officials, they laid charges against Prairieview under the Workplace Safety and Health Act.
On Nov. 1, 2023, Prairieview Custom Basements Inc. pleaded guilty to section 4(1)(a) of the act for failing to ensure, so far as practicable, the safety, health and/or welfare of workers at work.
“Specifically, the employer had not ensured the work area had been adequately ventilated during the application of the Rub-R-Wall foundation coating so as to prevent fire or explosions. A fine and court cost fee of $7,070 was imposed upon Prairieview Custom Basements Inc. by the court,” said the Manitoba government.
In announcing the case, the Manitoba government reminded employers to ensure workers’ safety at the workplace.
“Manitoba Labour and Immigration is reminding employers to confirm they have appropriate ventilation in place to ensure worker safety after an employer was prosecuted under the Workplace Safety and Health Act,” it said.
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) noted that ventilation is considered an "engineering control" to remove or control contaminants released in indoor work environments.
“It is one of the preferred and more effective ways to control employee exposure to contaminants released by a process into the air,” said CCOHS.
It added that other ways to control contaminants include:
- eliminate the use of the hazardous product,
- substitute with less toxic products,
- process change, or
- work practice change.
