Two workers injured in separate incident at company's smelter worksite
Metals and mining corporation Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. has been fined a total of $710,488.79 after two workers were hurt at the company’s facility.
Both incidents happened at the firm’s smelter worksite in Kitimat.
WorkSafeBC responded to both incidents.
In the first incident, a subcontracted worker received an electrical shock injury from an energized conductor on an electrical power distribution system.
WorkSafeBC found that there were inadequate controls in place to warn workers of and protect them from the electrical hazard.
“The firm failed to ensure workers remained the minimum distance from exposed electrical equipment and were informed of electrical hazards before being permitted to do work in proximity,” said the government agency.
In the second incident, a subcontracted worker was injured when they made contact with a rotary valve on a dust collector.
Rio Tinto also failed to ensure machinery was effectively safeguarded, and to ensure no work was done until the machinery was locked. These were all high-risk violations.
WorkSafeBC added that the firm failed to ensure regular inspections were made of its workplaces to prevent the development of unsafe working conditions, and failed to ensure the health and safety of all workers present at its workplace, both repeated violations.
“The firm also failed to ensure that hazardous areas were adequately secured, that physical hazards were marked clearly, and that safeguards met the requirements of applicable standards. Furthermore, the firm failed to provide information necessary to identify and eliminate or control health and safety hazards at the workplace,” said the agency.
WorkSafeBC imposed the penalties on Rio Tinto on Feb. 6, 2025.
