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Penalties - Manufacturing
Disclaimer: Revised November 2010
Administrative penalties are fines imposed on employers for health and safety violations of the Workers Compensation Act and/or the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The penalties--listed under the industry sectors below--show the date the penalty was imposed and the location where the violation occurred (not necessarily the business location). The registered business name is given as well as any "doing business as" (DBA) name.
The penalty amount is based on the nature of the violation, the employer's compliance history, and the employer's assessable payroll. Once a penalty is imposed, the employer has 90 days to appeal to the Review Division of WorkSafeBC. The Review Division may increase, maintain, reduce, or withdraw the penalty. Employers may then file an appeal within 30 days of the Review Division's decision to the Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal, an independent appeal body.
Listed under the industry sectors below, the fines indicate the penalties imposed prior to appeal, and they may not reflect the final penalty amount.
Manufacturing Penalties for 2013
Archive - Prior Penalties
Recent Penalties
Company: Very Jazzroo Enterprises Incorporated / Hospitality Designs, Richmond 
Classification unit: Wooden furniture manufacture
Amount: $47,636.78
Date of penalty: January 11, 2013
This firm violated multiple health and safety requirements at the furniture factory where it employed about 50 workers. For example, it allowed workers to use machinery, including a table saw and sanding machines, that was not safeguarded as required. It also failed to conduct the required inspections and incident investigations. The firm failed to ensure that an adequately trained first aid attendant was available on site. It could not provide the required training and orientation records for three of its workers. It allowed workers to stack boxes so that they were leaning into an aisle, instead of being stabilized as required. These were all repeated violations. The firm also failed to provide a work platform, instead allowing its workers to unsafely carry heavy and bulky materials up and down ladders. Further, the firm failed to conduct and document the required annual emergency drill. These, as well as other violations, were the basis for the firm's penalty.
Prior Penalties for 2013
There are no prior penalties for 2013 at this time.
Manufacturing Penalties for 2012
Archive - Prior Penalties
Prior Penalties for 2012
Company: Neucel Specialty Cellulose Ltd., Port Alice
Classification unit: Pulp and paper mill
Amount: $15,000
Date of penalty: October 22, 2012
This firm failed to involve a worker representative when it investigated an incident in which its power boiler was extensively damaged and put at risk of structural failure. The incident had the potential to seriously injure a worker, so the participation of a worker representative, if reasonably available, was required. The firm also failed to prepare the required report on the
incident investigation. The firm had previously received several WorkSafeBC orders related to other violations of the incident investigation requirements.
Company: Clearwater Door Manufacturing Ltd., Langley
Classification unit: Pre-hung door assembly
Amount: $20,160.55
Date of penalty: July 18, 2012
WorkSafeBC found numerous safety violations when it inspected this firm's workplace. These included four saws that lacked safeguards, an unsecured cylinder of compressed gas, pallet racking that was not installed according to the manufacturer's instructions, and doors that were stacked in a leaning and unstable manner. The firm also did not have the required level of first aid available at its workplace, or the required worker health and safety representative. These were both repeated violations, as was the firm's failure to safeguard its saws. Based on the firm's inspection history, the firm's violations were considered to have been committed knowingly or with disregard for the safety requirements.
Company: Rio Tinto Alcan Inc., Kitimat
Classification unit: Smelter
Amount: $75,000
Date of penalty: April 18, 2012
This firm failed to immediately investigate the causes of an explosion that took place when molten metal escaped from one of its smelter's pot rooms, flowed into a courtyard storm drain, and contacted water. Although no workers were hurt, the incident had the potential to cause serious injury and the firm was therefore required to investigate. Also, before the explosion, the firm's workers had identified defects in the basement walls of the pot rooms as a safety concern, due to the potential for molten metal to escape through those walls. The firm repeatedly failed to fix these problems, despite being ordered to do so.
Company: South Coast Fibre Inc., Port Mellon
Classification unit: Wood chip mill
Amount: $3,250.05
Date of penalty: February 29, 2012
A worker suffered serious crushing injuries while performing maintenance on a large industrial wood chipper. This firm was the prime contractor of the worksite where the accident occurred. As the prime contractor, this firm failed to do everything reasonably practicable to establish and maintain a system or process that would ensure compliance with the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. At the time of the accident, there was no designated site supervisor and the worker was not being supervised. Furthermore, the chipper had not been properly secured against accidental movement and the worker had not received a site orientation.
Company: Seaward Kayaks Ltd., Chemainus
Classification unit:Fibreglass or cultured marble product or acrylic household fixture manufacture
Amount: $13,612.60
Date of penalty: February 23, 2012
This firm's worker died from injuries he suffered when residual acetone vapours inside a drum he was welding ignited, causing the drum to explode. The firm failed to eliminate or adequately control all sources of ignition while its worker was handling a flammable product. The firm also failed to remedy the hazardous conditions that developed at its workplace and failed to instruct, train, and supervise its workers as necessary to ensure their safety.
Company: M.G.A. Italstone Ltd. / Italstone, Surrey
Classification unit: Stone or marble cutting, dressing, shaping, or lettering, or stone or marble product manufacture
Amount: $4,554.35
Date of penalty: January 27, 2012
This firm's worker died when the loaded forklift he was standing next to tipped over and crushed him. The forklift was carrying several slabs of limestone that together weighed about 2,400 kg (5,300 lbs.). The load was suspended from the forks in two wire-rope slings. The load became unstable and started to swing while the firm's owner, who was operating the forklift, was trying to lift and move it. The forklift then tipped over. The firm used unsafe methods to move the load and lacked knowledge of the forklift's capacities. These are examples of the firm's failure to ensure the safety of all its workers.
Manufacturing Penalties for 2011
Archive - Prior Penalties
Penalties for 2011
Company: Conocophillips Canada Resources Corp., Fort St. John
Classification unit: Oil or gas production
Amount: $7,892.75
Date of penalty: December 30, 2011
As the prime contractor of a multiple-employer workplace, this firm failed to effectively coordinate and supervise the health and safety activities of its contractors. It also failed to do everything reasonably practicable to establish and maintain a system or process to ensure that contractors complied with the Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. For example, the firm instructed workers to use unsafe methods to secure a drilling rig that was being moved on a bed truck. The firm also did not allow the tubing coil to be removed from the rig, which meant that the weight of the load exceeded the weight limits of bridges crossed during the move. In addition, the firm allowed workers to work longer hours than federal regulations allow. This was a repeated violation by the firm of the requirement to coordinate the health and safety activities of its contractors, and of the requirement to do everything reasonably practicable to establish and maintain a system or process for ensuring compliance.
Company: Rimex Supply Ltd., Agassiz
Classification unit: Heavy equipment, machinery, or parts manufacture or installation or removal
Amount: $71,431.86
Date of penalty: December 19, 2011
This firm's young worker died when his clothes were caught by the rotating drill that he was operating and he was pulled into the drill and spun around several times. The firm failed to arrange the work area in a way that allowed the worker to operate the drill safely. It also failed to adequately safeguard its equipment and effectively train and supervise its workers.
Company: Alpha Neon Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Illuminated or electronic sign manufacture
Amount: $14,815.75
Date of penalty: December 13, 2011
This firm failed to comply with multiple WorkSafeBC orders issued in response to numerous safety violations found at its worksite during inspections. For example, the firm failed to clean up wood and metal debris and broken equipment that posed a tripping hazard to workers, and failed to ensure that machinery was guarded as required. The firm also failed to ensure a first aid attendant was available on-site and that a forklift was inspected and maintained as required. These are only some of the firm's safety violations.
Company: East Fraser Fiber Co. Ltd., Mackenzie
Classification unit: Wooden component manufacture
Amount: $33,740.44
Date of penalty: November 28, 2011
A young worker at this firm suffered a fractured thumb as the result of reaching under the belt of a waste conveyor with a stick in order to clear sawdust that had collected under the tail spool. The conveyor was still running at the time and the young worker's hand was caught between the belt, the stick, and the floor. The firm failed to ensure that the energy source for the waste conveyor was isolated and effectively controlled as required. It also failed to ensure that the guard on the tail spool met the safeguarding requirements. This was a repeated violation of the lockout and safeguarding requirements.
Company: Dove Creek Timber Corp., Courtenay
Classification unit: Sawmill
Amount: $30,134.96
Date of penalty: November 25, 2011
The fingers of a young worker at this firm were amputated when he tried to clear debris from the blade of the energized trim saw he was operating. The injury happened after the foot control that moves the saw forward was inadvertently activated. When the saw advanced, the young worker used his hand to protect his body from the blade. The firm trained the worker to use an unsafe work practice that violated the equipment lockout requirements of the health and safety regulation and failed to provide him with the supervision needed to ensure his safety. In addition, the firm failed to ensure that equipment was secured against inadvertent movement, as is required before performing maintenance.
Company: Alliance Truss Ltd./Valley Truss Ltd./Epic Truss Systems Ltd., Langley
Classification unit: Wooden truss manufacture
Amount: $38,454.83
Date of penalty: November 18, 2011
The load line of this firm's mobile crane contacted a 14.4 KV power line, which could have resulted in serious or fatal injuries. The firm put workers' safety at risk through its failure to fully identify and inform workers about the hazards at the residential construction site where its mobile crane was operating. The firm also failed to accurately determine the voltage of the 14.4 KV power line and ensure that workers and equipment kept the required distance away from it.
Company: Bak Enterprises Ltd., Langley
Classification unit: Non-alcoholic beverage manufacture or water bottling
Amount: $1,000
Date of penalty: October 13, 2011
This firm failed to comply with orders that WorkSafeBC issued in response to multiple health and safety violations at its worksite. For example, the firm failed to repair leaking pipes that created a slip hazard. The firm also failed to properly maintain equipment and to post a sign informing workers of the precautions required for safe entry to a room where toxic gases may have been present. In addition, significant levels of ozone were detected inside the firm's ozonation room, indicating a system leak. These are only some of firm's health and safety violations.
Company: Hammer Mechanical Inc., Langley
Classification unit: Machine shop
Amount: $13,071.10
Date of penalty: October 6, 2011
This firm failed to comply with a WorkSafeBC order that required it to pay about $4,900 in wages to a worker it fired for reporting unsafe conditions.
Company: Encana Corporation, Dawson Creek
Classification unit: Oil or gas production
Amount: $146,869.76
Date of penalty: September 27, 2011
Workers were cleaning out pressurized tanks at a natural gas well site. One worker was fatally injured and two others suffered severe burns as the result of an explosion inside one of the tanks. As the prime contractor of a multiple-employer worksite, this firm failed to effectively coordinate the health and safety activities of the contractors that were testing and cleaning the tanks at its well site. It also failed to do everything reasonably practicable to establish and maintain a system or process to ensure that contractors complied with the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The firm failed to ensure that all ignition sources were eliminated or properly controlled and did not provide an effective means of verifying lockout. Further, it failed to appropriately analyze the risks arising from the work activities and to implement safe work procedures to address the hazards created by the work.
Company: Green Coastal Pre-Fab Systems Inc., Powell River
Classification unit: Wooden truss manufacture
Amount: $2,500
Date of penalty: September 2, 2011
This firm continued to operate a truck mounted crane that did not meet safety requirements. The crane truck had been written out of service by WorkSafeBC as the employer had failed to comply with outstanding orders regarding the rated capacity of the crane/truck combination and the crane's annual certification. After being ordered out of service, the crane was used to lift an airplane out of the water when the rigging failed and the plane fell back into the water.
Company: Washington Yachting Group ULC, North Vancouver
Classification unit: Commercial marine vessel manufacture, service, or repair
Amount: $73,367.50
Date of penalty: August 26, 2011
Several of this firm's workers, without respiratory protection, were exposed to hazardous paint vapours. The firm failed to ensure the use of respiratory protection as required under the circumstances. It also failed to prevent workers from accessing an area where the paint vapours were being discharged, and it failed to post hazard warning signage to restrict access to the area.
Company: West Fraser Mills Ltd., Williams Lake
Classification unit: Veneer or plywood manufacture
Amount: $75,000
Date of penalty: July 26, 2011
While falling trap trees, a worker of a subcontractor hired by this firm was fatally struck by part of a dangerous tree that broke off at a rotten area. The firm, as owner of this forestry operation, failed to ensure that all work activities were planned and conducted according to the regulatory requirements and safe work practices. The firm failed to provide a qualified supervisor for the falling activities and did not ensure that the worker was qualified or that the work of falling trap trees was within his documented and demonstrated capabilities.
Company: Westie Enterprises Ltd., Powell River
Classification unit: Glass shop, window installation, or window glass repair or replacement
Amount: $4,169.08
Date of penalty: July 12, 2011
Two of this firm's workers were working without fall protection near the edge of a roof about 4.3 m (14 ft.) above grade. The firm failed to ensure that the workers used fall protection as required. One of the workers was new to the job, but the firm did not provide him with a health and safety orientation or with training that covers the requirements for fall protection. The firm failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their safety. In addition, the firm did not provide first aid attendants, equipment, or supplies to be able to respond adequately to injured workers. These were all repeated violations.
Company: Patara Framing Enterprises Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Modular or prefabricated building manufacture
Amount: $2,797.68
Date of penalty: June 17, 2011
This firm's principal was standing 5.5 m (18 ft.) above grade on top of a wall under construction without using any fall protection. This was a repeated violation of the fall protection requirements.
Company: Custom Craft Cabinets Ltd., Burnaby
Classification unit: Wooden furniture manufacture
Amount: $5,000
Date of penalty: June 1, 2011
This firm has failed to provide lockout procedures to ensure that workers perform maintenance on machinery and equipment safely.
Company: Whitewater West Industries Ltd.,/Prime Play by Whitewater
Classification unit: Post extrusion fabrication of plastic products
Amount: $75,000
Date of penalty: May 30, 2011
This firm failed to ensure the health and safety of its workers and failed to provide them with adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision. For example, workers were using a shop-built work platform mounted on a lift truck to stand on and retrieve materials from shelving as high as 6 m (20 ft.) above grade. The work platform failed to meet the requirements for use to elevate workers, including a certified fall arrest anchor point. In addition, one of the firm's workers suffered a serious hand injury after contacting the running blade of a band saw, which was not fully and properly guarded. The few written safe work procedures available to workers for operating the band saw were inadequate. The firm also failed to conduct workplace inspections and incident investigations, to secure compressed gas cylinders, and to ensure workers wear seat belts on lift trucks. These are only some of the firm's repeated health and safety violations.
Company: Iron Mountain Cedar Products (2005) Ltd., Mission
Classification unit: Shake or shingle mill
Amount: $37,574.45
Date of penalty: May 27, 2011
This firm's worker suffered serious injuries after falling backwards into an unguarded, rotating swing saw blade. The firm failed to ensure the health and safety of its workers. It failed to conduct regular inspections to prevent unsafe working conditions from developing. The firm's health and safety program did not include inspection procedures or written safe work procedures for individual job positions. The firm also failed to instruct and supervise workers to ensure safety.
Company: Wesco Cabinets Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Woodworking or carpentry shop
Amount: $25,521.10
Date of penalty: May 27, 2011
This firm has failed to meet numerous health and safety requirements at its woodworking shop, including failing to develop and provide lockout procedures, or to provide workers with personal locks, and failing to guard equipment. It failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their safety. The firm also failed to provide an adequate level of first aid, to conduct an accident investigation after an injury, and to conduct safety meetings. These are only some of the firm's repeated safety violations.
Company: Progressive Steel Industries Ltd., Prince Rupert
Classification unit: Heavy equipment, machinery, or parts manufacture or installation or removal
Amount: $6,829.48
Date of penalty: May 19, 2011
This firm's young worker suffered a mild head injury when he was thrown back by an explosion that occurred underneath the deck of an aluminum boat. Flammable vapour trapped underneath the deck ignited as the worker started welding on the boat. The firm failed to provide the worker with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure his safety. Specifically, the firm did not provide safe work procedures for adequate testing of flammable vapours to determine if the welding could proceed safely.
Company: Canfor Pulp Limited Partnership, Prince George
Classification unit: Pulp and paper mill
Amount: $75,000
Date of penalty: May 6, 2011
A worker suffered serious burns when the 6-m (20-ft.) aluminum tubing he was holding contacted an overhead high-voltage power line. He was erecting scaffolding on a pipe bridge. As the prime contractor for a multiple-employer worksite, this firm failed to do everything reasonably practicable to maintain a system to ensure compliance with the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
Company: Rypac Aluminum Recycling Ltd., Surrey
Classification unit: Metal recycling
Amount: $15,178.69
Date of penalty: May 5, 2011
This firm's worker suffered an amputated arm as a result of trying to clear an obstruction from a moving conveyor belt. The worker reached under the belt to remove a piece of debris when his arm got pulled around a rotating drum. The firm failed to ensure the worker's safety in several ways. It failed to ensure that the power to the conveyor was isolated and controlled as required before allowing any maintenance to proceed. It failed to provide adequate guarding for the nip points on the belt conveyor to prevent contact. And it also failed to ensure that regular inspections of the workplace and equipment were conducted to prevent unsafe conditions from developing.
Company: Elite Furniture Ltd., Burnaby
Classification unit: Wooden furniture manufacture
Amount: $2,500
Date of penalty: March 14, 2011
This firm's worker was using a panel saw without its saw guard in place. The worker then tried to install the guard on the panel saw without first locking out to prevent the inadvertent movement of the saw blade. The firm failed to adequately inform, instruct, train, and supervise its worker to safely shut down equipment for maintenance. This was a repeated violation.
Company: Ardew Wood Products Ltd., Merritt
Classification unit: Sawmill
Amount: $50,537.30
Date of penalty: March 11, 2011
A worker collapsed unconscious after climbing down a ladder to access the shuf-off valve at the bottom of a manhole. This firm allowed the worker to enter the confined space whose oxygen-deficient atmosphere posed an immediate danger. The firm failed to identify the confined space at the worksite and to implement an appropriate confined-space entry program. It also failed to adequately train and supervise the worker to ensure his health and safety.
Company: Neucel Specialty Cellulose Ltd., Port Alice
Classification unit: Pulp and paper mill
Amount: $75,000
Date of penalty: March 11, 2011
Two of this firm's workers were dismantling a portion of a wall when it unexpectedly collapsed. Both workers suffered minor injuries as a result of the falling debris. Additionally, workers at the site may have been exposed to airborne asbestos fibres from the asbestos-containing wallboard panels that fell to the ground. The firm failed to adequately inform, instruct, train, and supervise its workers to ensure their health and safety during the demolition work.
Company: Globe Foundry Ltd., Burnaby
Classification unit: Foundry
Amount: $27,366.24
Date of penalty: February 21, 2011
This firm failed to comply within a reasonable time with WorkSafeBC orders issued as a result of numerous safety violations. The basic penalty amount was doubled because the firm has already received a penalty for the same violations.
Company: Oakpine Manufacturing Ltd., Surrey
Classification unit: Wooden furniture manufacture
Amount: $2,842.15
Date of penalty: February 18, 2011
This firm failed to comply with WorkSafeBC orders issued as a result of several safety violations. For example, the firm failed to prevent wood dust, which poses a fire hazard, from accumulating to dangerous levels throughout its worksite. It failed to inspect and monitor regularly the exhaust ventilation system to ensure its effectiveness. The firm also failed to provide appropriate emergency washing facilities for those work areas where workers may be exposed to harmful or corrosive materials. These are only some of the firm's repeated safety violations.
Company: Logoplaste Canada Inc., Burnaby
Classification unit: Plastic product manufacture
Amount: $2,500
Date of penalty: February 14, 2011
Two of this firm's workers were at risk of serious injury while repairing a machine that was still energized. The firm failed to ensure that the machine was locked out as required before allowing workers to repair it.
Company: Northwestern Systems Corporation, Delta
Classification unit: Heavy equipment, machinery, or parts manufacture or installation or removal
Amount: $12,874.61
Date of penalty: January 18, 2011
Two of this firm's workers were working on the electrical panel of an energized industrial washing machine when one of the workers suffered an electrical shock that threw him backwards. The firm failed to provide lockout procedures as required, and it failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their safety while doing electrical work. It also failed to conduct an investigation into the accident that had the potential for causing serious injury.
Company: Patara Framing Enterprises Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Modular or prefabricated building manufacture
Amount: $2,797.68
Date of penalty: January 10, 2011
This firm's principal and three of its workers were working on a sloped roof between 3.5 and 8.5 m (12 and 28 ft.) above grade without using any form of fall protection. This was a repeated high-risk violation of the fall protection requirements.
Manufacturing Penalties for 2010
Company: Harco Services Ltd., Maple Ridge
Classification unit: Wooden box, crate, pallet, or lath manufacture
Amount: $2,500
Date of penalty: December 1, 2010
A young worker for this firm sustained serious injuries after using his foot to roll a log towards a front-end loader fitted with a bucket-and-grapple attachment. This was a common practice at the firm's worksite. The grapple closed around the worker's foot, crushing three toes, which were later surgically amputated. The employer did not have a system in place to ensure the health and safety of workers, and did not provide the new and young worker with health and safety orientation and training.
Company: Wesco Cabinets Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Woodworking or carpentry shop
Amount: $12,760.55
Date of penalty: November 17, 2010
This firm exposed its workers to serious hazards in its woodworking shop by failing to provide them with adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision. Its violations include failing to provide lockout procedures and personal locks as well as failing to safeguard table saws and edge banners. The firm did not provide emergency washing facilities or an adequate level of first aid at its worksite. It failed to fit test workers who wear respirators, to ensure that noise-exposed workers receive annual hearing tests, and to implement an effective protective equipment program. The firm also failed to conduct incident investigations, regular safety meetings, and regular workplace inspections.
Company: P.E.T. Processing Inc., Delta
Classification unit: Plastic or rubber recycling
Amount: $29,463.88
Date of penalty: November 9, 2010
This employer's worker was fatally injured while trying to retrieve a bag of plastic recyclables inadvertently tossed into the hopper of a waste materials baler. The baler's ram automatically started compressing when the worker climbed into the hopper. The employer had modified the baler. These modifications did not meet the safety requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, making it easier for workers to access the hazardous ram chamber. The employer had not developed safe work procedures for the baler, including what to do in case material was inadvertently tossed into it. The employer failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their safety. Its workplace created serious hazards for workers, resulting in a fatal injury.
Company: Northwest Wood Preservers / Vanderhoof Specialty Wood Products, Vanderhoof
Classification unit: Wooden component manufacture
Amount: $35,326.52
Date of penalty: October 28, 2010
A young worker at this firm's mill was trying to clear wood chips stuck between the moving parts at one end of a running conveyor. The worker suffered a broken arm when it got caught between the conveyor belt and its rotating drum. The worker, who was by himself, was stuck for about two hours, lying face down on the ground buried under wood chips, before another worker discovered him. The firm failed to guard the conveyor's drum to prevent workers from getting caught in its pinch points. It also failed to implement a written procedure for checking on workers assigned to work alone or in isolation.
Company: Goldband Shake & Shingle Ltd., Port Hardy
Classification unit: Shake or shingle mill
Amount: $12,571.30
Date of penalty: October 19, 2010
A worker at this firm's mill suffered an amputated finger when his hand contacted the running blade of a trim saw. In previous incidents at this mill, two other workers also suffered amputated fingers when their hands contacted running saw blades, and a third worker suffered a near amputation of a foot when it was drawn into a saw blade. The firm repeatedly failed to provide workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their safety.
Company: Sealum Industries Ltd., Delta
Classification unit: Engine or cylinder manufacture or rebuilding or automobile part manufacture
Amount: $38,718.64
Date of penalty: July 30, 2010
This firm's workers were exposed to tobacco smoke in the workplace. The firm also failed to provide workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their safety. This was a repeated violation of the requirement to control exposure to tobacco smoke.
Company: Trevor Keith Quinnell, Vancouver
Classification unit: Sheet metal fabrication
Amount: $3,929.23
Date of penalty: July 14, 2010
Three of this firm's workers were working without fall protection on a roof about 6.5 m (21 ft.) above grade. This was a repeated high-risk violation of the fall protection regulations.
Company: R 171 Enterprises Ltd., Kelowna
Classification unit: Structural metal product fabrication
Amount: $54,336.56
Date of penalty: June 14, 2010
This firm's worker suffered several amputated fingers while operating a mechanical punch press. The firm failed to ensure that the punch press had the required safeguarding to prevent workers' hands from contacting hazardous moving parts. It also failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety.
Company: Pinnacle Pellet WL Inc., Williams Lake
Classification unit: Pressed board manufacture
Amount: $22,984.28
Date of penalty: May 3, 2010
A truck driver was fatally injured when a loader backed into him while he was standing behind the truck. Although the driver was not this firm's worker, the incident happened in this firm's material storage building. The firm failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their safety and also failed to ensure the safety of other workers at its workplace.
Company: Sealum Industries Ltd., Delta
Classification unit: Engine or cylinder manufacture or rebuilding or automobile part manufacture
Amount: $41,632.84
Date of penalty: March 19, 2010
This firm failed to ensure that its machines and equipment were fitted with adequate safeguards, thereby repeatedly exposing its workers to a high risk of injury. As a result, a worker's hand was seriously crushed after coming into contact with a machine's hazardous point of operation. The firm also failed to provide workers with adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision.
Company: Foley's Candies Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Candy or chocolate manufacture
Amount: $44,505.10
Date of penalty: February 23, 2010
A worker's hand was seriously injured when it got caught in the drive mechanism of a chocolate depositing machine. This firm failed to ensure that the machine was effectively locked out to make it safe for maintenance work. The firm also failed to provide workers with adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision.
Company: Planit Industries & Research Ltd., Langley
Classification unit: Plastic product manufacture
Amount: $5,000
Date of penalty: February 16, 2010
This firm has violated an order to stop all work at its facility for the manufacturing of plastics. It allowed hazardous chemicals to be handled and mixed as part of the manufacturing process. WorkSafeBC issued the order to stop work after determining that multiple safety violations at the facility posed an immediate danger to workers. The firm's violations include the following. Written safe work procedures on eliminating or minimizing the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals were not available. A worker handled hazardous chemicals without adequate skin and hand protection. Chemical spills had not been adequately cleaned up. Containers of hazardous chemicals did not have the required labels. Containers not meant to hold hazardous chemicals were also being used. An exhaust system for removing air contaminants was ineffective because it had been partially dismantled.
Company: Planit Industries & Research Ltd., Langley
Classification unit: Plastic product manufacture
Amount: $5,000
Date of penalty: February 16, 2010
This firm has violated an order to stop all work at its facility for the manufacturing of plastics. It allowed hazardous chemicals to be handled and mixed as part of the manufacturing process. WorkSafeBC issued the order to stop work after determining that multiple safety violations at the facility posed an immediate danger to workers. The firm's violations include the following. Written safe work procedures on eliminating or minimizing the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals were not available. A worker handled hazardous chemicals without adequate skin and hand protection. Chemical spills had not been adequately cleaned up. Containers of hazardous chemicals did not have the required labels. Containers not meant to hold hazardous chemicals were also being used. An exhaust system for removing air contaminants was ineffective because it had been partially dismantled.
Company: Custom Metal Products Inc., Coombs
Classification unit: Metal product manufacture
Amount: $11,426.80
Date of penalty: February 5, 2010
This employer failed to safeguard a power press to prevent workers from contacting the point of operation. Less than three years before this recent violation, the employer received another penalty for a similar safeguarding violation.
Company: Globe Foundry Ltd., Burnaby
Classification unit: Foundry
Amount: $6,012.19
Date of penalty: February 1, 2010
This employer failed to comply with multiple WorkSafeBC orders within a reasonable time. Its violations include the following. The employer failed to assess the potential for overexposure to hazardous substances. It did not provide workers with written procedures for the selection, use, and maintenance of respirators. The spray booth at its workplace was not being used according to the regulations. The exhaust ventilation system in one of its buildings did not effectively control air contaminants. The employer failed to provide eyewash and shower facilities as required. It failed to prepare a workplace inventory of asbestos-containing material. It also did not maintain a health and safety program based on regular monthly meetings for discussing health and safety.
Company: Custom Craft Cabinets Ltd., Burnaby
Classification unit: Wooden furniture manufacture
Amount: $2,500
Date of penalty: January 28, 2010
This employer failed to comply with multiple WorkSafeBC orders within a reasonable time. Its violations include the following. The employer failed to provide Material Safety Data Sheets for controlled products and failed to provide written lockout procedures for machinery and equipment. A ladder without the required guardrails was being used to access a mezzanine about 3.5 m (12 ft.) above grade. Workers were wearing running shoes instead of the required safety footwear. An emergency exit was blocked and would not have provided a quick escape route.
Company: Brink Forest Products Ltd., Prince George
Classification unit: Wooden component manufacture
Amount: $13,083.82
Date of penalty: January 26, 2010
This firm's joint health and safety committee did not meet regularly. This was a repeated violation of the requirement to maintain a joint health and safety committee in a workplace with 20 or more workers. This employer also failed to ensure that machinery and equipment had adequate safeguards to protect workers.
Company: Mansonville Plastics (B.C.) Ltd., Surrey
Classification unit: Foam product manufacture
Amount: $44,179.16
Date of penalty: January 12, 2010
This firm failed to comply with a WorkSafeBC order within a reasonable time. After it took discriminatory action against a worker, the firm failed to provide remedies as ordered by WorkSafeBC.
Manufacturing Penalties for 2009
Company: Canadian Vinyltek Window Corporation, Delta
Classification unit: Vinyl window manufacture
Amount: $48,301.11
Date of penalty: December 16, 2009
This firm failed to ensure the health and safety of its workers by not providing adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision. It failed repeatedly to conduct workplace inspections and accident investigations, to ensure monthly meetings of the joint health and safety committee, to provide first aid attendants and adequate first aid facilities, and to safeguard saws adequately.
Company: Twin Anchors Marine (1977) Ltd., Sicamous
Classification unit: Marine pleasure craft manufacture
Amount: $8,464.32
Date of penalty: December 2, 2008
One of this firm's workers was performing metal inert gas welding while not wearing respiratory protection and not using any exhaust ventilation. This was a repeated violation.
Company: Lafarge Canada Inc., Richmond
Classification unit: Cement manufacture
Amount: $55,531.32
Date of penalty: November 12, 2009
This firm repeatedly failed to protect workers from exposure to corrosive products (clinker and Portland cement), to safeguard equipment, to ensure worker health and safety, and to coordinate the work of contractors.
Company: Que Pasa Mexican Foods Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Cereal, biscuit, taco or rice product, pasta, or other dry food product manufacture
Amount: $67,718.53
Date of penalty: November 3, 2009
A worker's arm was amputated after being caught in the drive unit of a drum fryer. This employer failed to provide the worker with written safe work procedures in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. This was a repeated violation.
Company: West Coast Granite Manufacturing Inc., Delta
Classification unit: Stone or marble cutting, dressing, shaping, or lettering, or stone or marble product manufacture
Amount: $33,425.94
Date of penalty: October 26, 2009
A granite slab weighing about 486 kg (1,080 lb.) released from a scissor clamp that a worker was using to move the slab. The slab pinned the worker against adjacent stacked slabs. The workstation had an unsafe design, and the work method was unsafe. This firm failed to ensure the health and safety of all workers at its worksite, failed to maintain an occupational health and safety program, and failed to stack materials securely.
Company: Concord Concrete Pumps Inc., Port Coquitlam
Classification unit: Heavy equipment, machinery, or parts manufacture or installation or removal
Amount: $11,566.42
Date of penalty: October 23, 2009
This employer has continued over a 10-month period to violate numerous sections of the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. These violations were committed knowingly and/or recklessly.
Company: Premier Envelope (BC) Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Paper product manufacture
Amount: $9,021.56
Date of penalty: October 16, 2009
The tip of a worker's finger was amputated while she was working on a guillotine-style paper cutter. This employer failed to provide adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision to workers who operated paper-cutting presses. The employer also failed to adequately safeguard a guillotine paper slicer and die cutter.
Company: PTPC Corrugated Company, Richmond
Classification unit: Cardboard or paper container manufacture
Amount: $75,000
Date of penalty: September 15, 2009
A worker's arm was crushed in a corrugator machine. This employer failed to de-energize parts as required. It also failed to provide workers with adequate instruction, training, and supervision.
Company: River Butte Management Ltd., Brisco
Classification unit: Wooden post or pole manufacture
Amount: $3,210
Date of penalty: August 19, 2009
This firm failed to maintain a formaldehyde detector (linked to an exhaust ventilation system) to ensure that exposures fall below the 8-hour limit of 0.3 ppm. This was a repeated violation. The firm allowed workers to smoke in undesignated areas, and did not maintain the designated smoking room.
Company: Great West Paper Box Co. Ltd., Burnaby
Classification unit: Cardboard or paper container manufacture
Amount: $24,365.56
Date of penalty: July 31, 2009
This employer failed to ensure that its workers followed proper lockout procedures when doing maintenance on printing and box-making machinery. It failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety as well as the health and safety of other workers at the workplace. It also failed to undertake timely corrective action to prevent a recurrence of a similar incident after a worker sustained serious injury when cleaning machinery that had not been locked out.
Company: Sigurdson Bros Logging Co Ltd., Vancouver
Classification unit: Sawmill
Amount: $86,690
Date of penalty: July 30, 2009
Two serious injuries occurred about five weeks apart in different sawmills operated by this employer. In the first incident, a worker was cleaning under a lumber stacker when he reached through an operating transfer deck chain for a piece of waste wood. His glove got caught in the chain sprocket, and his hand was drawn into the sprocket and amputated. In the second incident, a worker climbed onto the deck of a trimmer machine and approached an unguarded trim saw to straighten out boards being fed into the saw. As the worker tried to kick a board over the saw blade, his work boot was pulled into the trim saw and he fell onto the saw. The worker's right leg was amputated. His badly injured left leg was later amputated in hospital.
This employer failed to ensure the health and safety of its workers and other workers at its workplace. It failed to remedy workplace conditions hazardous to worker health or safety and to provide its workers and other workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety. It also failed to lock out and guard the chain sprocket and circular saw.
Company: United Concrete & Gravel Ltd., Quesnel
Classification unit: Ready mix concrete manufacture and delivery
Amount: $28,929.53
Date of penalty: July 7, 2009
A worker suffered serious injuries after a fall of about 6 m (20 ft.). This firm failed to comply with the fall protection requirements.
Company: P.G. Sort Yard Ltd. / 550031 BC Ltd., Prince George
Classification unit: Sawmill
Amount: $28,853
Date of penalty: June 12, 2009
This was a repeated violation. This firm failed to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation regarding lockout, safeguarding, and a safe means of crossing transfer decks.
Company: Metal & Wood Products (1958) Ltd., Vancouver
Classification unit: Structural metal product fabrication
Amount: $9,253
Date of penalty: May 14, 2009
This employer failed to safeguard or lock out a punch press, which resulted in serious injury to a worker's hands when the worker adjusted a rubber stripper to the press. The employer also failed to supervise and train its workers or provide written lockout procedures.
Company: Alla Cabinet (2002) Ltd., Vancouver
Classification unit: Woodworking or carpentry shop
Amount: $3,157
Date of penalty: May 11, 2009
Repeated non-compliance. This employer failed to ensure that workers replaced guards over exposed table-saw blades after completing woodworking operations, where the use of guards was clearly impracticable. The employer demonstrated repeated non-compliance with section 12.59(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
Company: Richmond Elevator Maintenance Ltd., Vancouver
Classification unit: Elevator or escalator manufacture, installation, service, or repair
Amount: $75,000
Date of penalty: April 14, 2009
A worker performing car-top service was fatally injured when he fell between an elevator car and the elevator shaft. This firm failed to provide elevator mechanics with adequate instruction, training, and supervision. It allowed workers to troubleshoot on fully energized equipment, and it failed to develop specific safe work procedures to protect workers from a high-risk hazard.
Company: Westshore Specialties Ltd., Delta
Classification unit: Planing mill
Amount: $27,288
Date of penalty: March 16, 2009
This employer failed to ensure the health and safety of a worker assigned by another employer to carry out that other employer's work using an inadequately safeguarded machine. This employer owned the machine, which was located in premises also owned by this employer. The worker was seriously injured when he accessed an inadequately safeguarded hazardous point of operation at the outfeed of the machine.
Company: Delta Cedar Products Ltd., et al., Delta
Classification unit: Sawmill
Amount: $68,750
Date of penalty: March 16, 2009
A worker was seriously injured when he accessed an inadequately safeguarded, hazardous point-of-operation at the outfeed of a machine. This employer failed to ensure the health and safety of a worker assigned to carry out the employer's work using an inadequately safeguarded machine. The machine was owned by another employer and was located in premises owned by that employer.
Company: Arktos Developments Ltd., Surrey
Classification unit: Aircraft, automobile, or truck assembly
Amount: $25,810
Date of penalty: March 13, 2009
Multiple violations. This employer failed to ensure the health and safety of a worker, failed to ensure that only trained and qualified workers were allowed to operate forklifts, failed to ensure that workers were adequately supervised, and failed to ensure safe operation of the forklift through regular inspection and maintenance by a qualified mechanic.
Company: Montalco Cabinets (1991) Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Woodworking or carpentry shop
Amount: $13,994.84
Date of penalty: February 27, 2009
One of this firm's workers suffered an amputated thumb after contacting an unguarded table saw blade. This was a repeated violation by the firm of the requirement to guard a table saw blade.
Company: CCI Industries Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Concrete product manufacture
Amount: $79,958
Date of penalty: February 16, 2009
This employer failed to ensure that equipment was locked out before performing maintenance work, and also failed to provide adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision with respect to lockout.
Company: Viceroy Homes Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Modular or prefabricated building manufacture
Amount: $70,426
Date of penalty: February 10, 2009
A young worker was fatally injured when a cart carrying 1,000 kilos (2,200 pounds) of wooden trusses tipped over and landed on the worker. This employer failed to ensure the health and safety of its workers by not providing adequate supervision and by failing to have written safe work procedures in place.
Company: PMC Builders & Developers Ltd., Vancouver
Classification unit: Structural metal product fabrication
Amount: $34,272
Date of penalty: February 9, 2009
Repeated violations. A worker was welding from a scaffold platform erected atop a plywood platform supported by a roof deck. The worker was at risk of a potential fall of about 7.5 m (25 ft.). No guardrails were present, nor was the worker wearing fall protection equipment, despite the availability of fall protection equipment on site.
Manufacturing Penalties for 2008
Company: TNL Services Ltd., Vancouver
Classification unit: Heavy equipment, machinery, or parts manufacture or installation or removal
Amount: $22,106.92
Date of penalty: December 18, 2008
Three of this firm's workers were working in an excavation about 5 m (16 ft.) deep. One of them was working outside an improperly installed shoring cage. The excavation's sides had not been adequately sloped or shored, and the excavation had no safe means of entry and exit. These were repeated violations.
Company: Twin Anchors Marine (1977) Ltd., Sicamous
Classification unit: Marine pleasure craft manufacture
Amount: $8,464.32
Date of penalty: December 2, 2008
One of this firm's workers was performing metal inert gas welding while not wearing respiratory protection and not using any exhaust ventilation. This was a repeated violation.
Company: Structa Wire Corporation, Vancouver
Classification unit: Wire, cable, or other wire product manufacture
Amount: $30,200
Date of penalty: November 27, 2008
A worker's hand was drawn into an unguarded printing press. The worker suffered serious crushing injuries to three fingers. This employer failed to ensure that the press was fitted with adequate safeguards.
Company: Apollo Forest Products Ltd., Fort Saint James
Classification unit: Sawmill
Amount: $14,415
Date of penalty: November 18, 2008
This employer failed on more than one occasion to report serious accidents to WorkSafeBC or to immediately conduct accident investigations as required by the Workers Compensation Act.
Company: Catalyst Paper Corporation, Campbell River
Classification unit: Pulp and paper mill
Amount: $75,000
Date of penalty: October 22, 2008
A serious and avoidable violation of requirements to identify and assess the risk of asbestos exposure, resulting in uncontrolled worker exposure to loose asbestos debris and associated fibres.
Company: Kent Metal Products Ltd., Vancouver
Classification unit: Sheet metal fabrication
Amount: $12,791
Date of penalty: October 15, 2008
This employer failed to comply with previously issued orders regarding safeguarding of equipment.
Company: Planit Industries & Research Ltd., Langley
Classification unit: Plastic product manufacture
Amount: $2,500
Date of penalty: October 10, 2008
This employer knowingly violated a stop work order.
Company: Custom Metal Products Inc., Coombs
Classification unit: Metal product manufacture
Amount: $6,069
Date of penalty: October 7, 2008
Two workers sustained crushing and amputation injuries to their fingers as a result of using unguarded power punch press equipment. This employer failed to safeguard the equipment and to provide adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision to ensure the safety of workers.
Company: Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Fort Saint John
Classification unit: Oil or gas production
Amount: $29,412
Date of penalty: October 6, 2008
As prime contractor of the worksite, this firm failed to do everything within reason to establish and maintain a system or process to ensure compliance with the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. This is a repeated violation.
Company: Delta Pacific Seafoods Ltd., Delta
Classification unit: Fish processing, fish reduction, or fish canning
Amount: $90,165
Date of penalty: September 25, 2008
Serious injury. This firm repeatedly failed to ensure that a worker wears a seatbelt when operating a forklift. It also repeatedly failed to ensure adequate lights on a forklift, to ensure adequate illumination in work areas, and to ensure workers exposed to forklift traffic wear high-visibility apparel. In this case, a worker was struck by a forklift. At the time of the incident, the forklift's rear headlamp was inoperable, and the forklift was not equipped with a mirror that provided its operator with an undistorted view to the rear of the forklift. Further, the lighting installed on the side of the main building was being blocked by stacked fish totes. A subsequent inspection revealed that, even without the stacked totes, the illumination in the area was below that required by the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
Company: Noble Custom Cut Ltd., Maple Ridge
Classification unit: Sawmill
Amount: $11,921
Date of penalty: July 24, 2008
Failure to safeguard various chain sprocket drives and V-belt drive components to provide an emergency stopping device on trim saws and to protect workers from rotting logs.
Company: Encana Corporation
Classification unit: Oil or gas production
Amount: $150,000
Date of penalty: June 13, 2008
Fatality. A worker was struck by two hung-up trees while performing the high-risk activity of falling trees up to 0.6 m (2 ft.) in diameter. The workers involved in the incident had received inadequate training. The prime contractor's failure to coordinate activities resulted in a lack of first-aid services and evacuation procedures that may have prevented the worker's death. As prime contractor, the firm failed to do everything within reason to coordinate activities and to establish and maintain a system or process to ensure compliance.
Company: Sealum Industries Ltd.
Classification unit: Engine or cylinder manufacture or rebuilding or automobile part manufacture
Amount: $9,973
Date of penalty: May 30, 2008
Failure to comply with previous orders regarding 1) overhead bridge cranes not having controls maintained in good condition, 2) regular inspection and maintenance of overhead bridge cranes, and 3) establishing an effective inspection and maintenance record for these cranes.
Company: Steels Industrial Products Ltd., Surrey
Classification unit: Boiler, tank, or furnace manufacture
Amount: $17,237.23
Date of penalty: May 8, 2008
Several welding stations at this firm's worksite did not have local exhaust ventilation to minimize worker exposure to harmful airborne contaminants such as hexavalent chromium, which is a carcinogen. The firm also failed to comply with previous orders within a reasonable time.
Company: Abbotsford Concrete Products Limited Partnership, Abbotsford
Classification unit: Concrete product manufacture
Amount: $51,354.44
Date of penalty: May 5, 2008
This firm repeatedly failed to comply with machinery and equipment safeguarding requirements as well as guardrail and handrail requirements, exposing workers to a high risk of serious injury or death.
Company: Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Limited Partnership
Classification unit: Pulp and paper mill
Amount: $75,000
Date of penalty: April 28, 2008
The employer failed to ensure that workers were informed, instructed, trained, and supervised regarding lock out for a breaker leading to a cabinet where large cooling fans are housed. A worker attempting to repair a fan was severely burned in an explosion when he dropped his metal flashlight inside the energized cabinet.
Company: Educan Institutional Furniture Ltd.
Classification unit: Metal bed, furniture, or ladder manufacture
Amount: $4,714
Date of penalty: April 24, 2008
Continued non-compliance with orders to initiate and maintain an informal health and safety program.
Company: Allied Salvage & Metals (1985) Ltd.
Classification unit: Metal recycling
Amount: $19,558
Date of penalty: April 15, 2008
Failure to ensure the health and safety of all workers at a workplace, and repeated failure to ensure that a forklift had been maintained to meet the minimum maintenance and operating requirements. The forklift had an ineffective hand brake, defective seatbelt, and lack of mirrors. A worker sustained injuries when the parked forklift rolled backwards and pinned him against another vehicle.
Company: Luxury Smokers Ltd., 145 6660 Graybar Road, Richmond
Classification unit: Fish processing, fish reduction, or fish canning
Amount: $8,318
Date of penalty: April 4, 2008
Serious injury. Failure to adequately safeguard a fish slicer in which a worker could reach the hazardous point of operation. Failure to ensure that the energy source of a fish slicer was isolated and effectively controlled (locked out) before work was carried out below the blade area in a location that could, and did, cause injury. Failure to provide adequate information, instruction, and training with regard to lockout, which resulted in a serious injury to a worker.
Company: West Chilcotin Forest Products Ltd., Hwy 20, west of Nimpo Lake, Anahim Lake
Classification unit: Sawmill
Amount: $48,465
Date of penalty: April 2, 2008
Serious injury. The firm failed to provide its workers with the necessary information, instruction, training, and supervision surrounding lockout procedures. These violations resulted in an industrial accident that caused significant traumatic injuries.
Company: Dynamic Chocolates, ULC, Delta
Classification unit: Candy or chocolate manufacture
Amount: $57,212.48
Date of penalty: March 5, 2008
This firm repeatedly failed to provide lockout procedures to protect workers from the unexpected start-up of machinery or equipment. It also repeatedly failed to comply with first aid, joint committee, and workplace inspection requirements.
Company: Rolling Mix Concrete (BC) Ltd., Prince George
Classification unit: Ready mix concrete manufacture and delivery
Amount: $5,696
Date of penalty: February 19, 2008
This firm failed to properly control the exposure of workers to environmental tobacco smoke in the workplace.
Company: Goldwood Industries Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Sawmill
Amount: $45,727
Date of penalty: January 4, 2008
Multiple violations. The employer failed to use personal fall arrest equipment while working from a self-propelled, elevating work platform. The worksite presented a fall hazard of about 9 m (30 ft.). The employer also failed to provide workers with adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision, and failed to ensure a self-propelled, elevating work platform (boom lift) was inspected as required.
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