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Penalties - Service Sector
Penalties are fines for health and safety violations of the Workers Compensation Act and/or the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. For information on when penalties are considered and how the amount of the penalty is calculated, see the FAQs.
The address given is the location where the violation occurred and is not necessarily the address of the penalized business. The registered business name is given as well as any "doing business as" (DBA) name.
The delay between the date of the penalty and publication of the penalty by WorkSafeBC is partially a result of allowing time for employers and other interested parties to respond to the initial penalty and for the appeal process.
Service Sector
Recent Penalties
Company: 0746903 BC Ltd., Salmon Arm 
Classification unit: Retirement home or seniors' home
Amount: $6,121
Date of penalty: July 8, 2009
This firm showed repeated non-compliance with orders requiring a less formal health and safety program, a first aid record, a risk assessment on workplace violence, and the identification of hazards for workers working alone.
Company: Mac's Pizza Ltd., Prince George
Classification unit: Restaurant or other dining establishment
Amount: $6,123
Date of penalty: November 12, 2008
This firm failed to comply with an order in a reasonable time. It was issued numerous orders to establish and maintain a joint health and safety committee in the workplace.
Company: Horizon Communications Ltd., Delta
Classification unit: Security alarm system sales, service, installation, and repair or telecommunications, cable TV, or other similar wiring
Amount: $51,178
Date of penalty: February 15, 2008
This firm repeatedly failed to ensure that workers were provided with and were using a fall protection system while working in a boom-mounted work platform.
Company: Alpha Equities Ltd., Richmond
Classification unit: Building management, building rental, or mobile home parks and strata corporations
Amount: $2,912
Date of penalty: October 3, 2007
One worker was fatally injured and another seriously injured when a 7,747-kg (16,550-lb.) concrete traffic control trellis beam collapsed on a rental truck. This firm owned the workplace where the trellis beam was located.
Company: Arbutus Tree Service Ltd., Vancouver
Classification unit: Tree Services
Amount: $2,500
Date of penalty: May 24, 2006
A qualified person did not inspect the worksite before tree pruning close to energized conductors. Workers were not informed of the voltage of the conductors. Tree pruning was performed less than 3 m (10 ft.) from a high voltage power line without assurance by the owner of the power system that any reclose feature (for the line) was disabled.
Prior Penalties in Date Order
Company: Aztech Environmental Consulting Services Ltd., North Vancouver
Classification unit: Industrial testing
Amount: $1,000
Date of penalty: January 9, 2009
As a consulting firm that specialized in pre-demolition asbestos identification and assessment services, this firm failed to exercise reasonable care in conducting a hazardous asbestos material survey.
Company: Island Lake Resort Group (2003) Inc., Fernie
Classification unit: Cabin, cottage, resort, or overnight rental accommodation (not elsewhere specified)
Amount: $51,900
Date of penalty: December 18, 2008
Fatality. A worker was sent out alone to a remote weather station in the Rocky Mountains near Fernie to check on snow conditions during a high-risk avalanche period. The worker's solo status denied others the means of checking on her well-being during the trip. An avalanche occurred, burying the worker in snow. The worker was not wearing an emergency transceiver, which hampered rescue activities. The worker died from her injuries.
Company: Woodheart Forest Resources Ltd., Campbell River
Classification unit: Building management, building rental, or mobile home parks and strata corporations
Amount: $6,638
Date of penalty: December 4, 2008
The employer, as prime contractor, failed to coordinate work activities, failed to ensure the use of a fall protection system, and failed to ensure the provision of first aid. A third-party worker who had not received an orientation fell through an unguarded opening in the deck of the barge.
Company: Rajmen Enterprises Ltd., Victoria
Classification unit: Window, gutter, or awning cleaning
Amount: $7,776
Date of penalty: November 6, 2008
Two workers were observed conducting window-cleaning activities at the edge of an unguarded balcony at an elevation over 12.2 m (40 ft.). The balcony area was covered with crushed rock, exposing the workers to a rough, uneven surface. Both workers had their backs to the unguarded balcony edge and were not using any effective means of fall protection, although fall protection equipment was available on site.
Company: Donovan Management Ltd., Vancouver
Classification unit: Construction management consulting
Amount: $4,454
Date of penalty: September 3, 2008
This firm failed to accurately locate an underground utility service, which resulted in a worker being exposed to a high risk of serious illness or death. As the prime contractor of this worksite, the firm failed to ensure the coordination of occupational health and safety activities for employers, workers, and other people in the workplace.
Company: Pro-Bel Enterprises Ltd., Vancouver
Classification unit: Heavy equipment, machinery, or parts sales, service, or repair (greater than 500 lbs weight)
Amount: $17,250
Date of penalty: December 24, 2007
Two workers were hit and injured by a heavy power supply cable when an eye bolt supporting the equipment broke at the weld. An investigation found the eye bolt had been installed incorrectly. This firm failed to meet the following requirements: ensuring the health and safety of other workers at the worksite, ensuring that equipment (the eye bolt) was capable of safely performing the functions for which it was used, and inspecting the eye bolts to ensure they had been installed according to the manufacturer's instructions and/or good engineering practices.
Company: Donovan Management Ltd., Thunderbird Parkade, 2525 Main Mall, UBC Campus
Classification unit: Construction management consulting
Amount: $4,084
Date of penalty: November 22, 2007
Failure to ensure that a trench more than 1.2 m (4 ft.) in depth was adequately sloped, shored, or supported in accordance with the instructions of a professional engineer prior to worker entry. Failure to establish and maintain a system or process to ensure compliance with the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
Company: K & L Windows and Gutters Ltd., Private residence, 3855
W. 27th Avenue, Vancouver
Classification unit: Window, gutter, or awning cleaning
Amount: $10,425
Date of penalty: October 2, 2007
A worker was seriously injured after falling from a roof edge while cleaning
gutters. Employer failed to ensure the worker used a fall-protection system
and, in regard to the risk of falling, to provide the information, instruction, and training necessary to ensure the health and safety of the worker. A claims cost levy is included in the total penalty amount.
Company: Tall Timber Tree Services Ltd., 2250 24 Street, Surrey
Classification unit: Landscaping or installation of lawn irrigation systems
Amount: $4,745
Date of penalty: September 27, 2007
Failure to ensure that a risk assessment was conducted before cutting down the tree (a "school-marm"), and to provide workers with adequate information and supervision to ensure their safety. This resulted in worker being fatally injured when struck by the trunk of a tree he was attempting to fall.
Company: GA Construction Ltd., 5600 No. 1 Road, Richmond
Classification unit: Landscaping or installation of lawn irrigation systems
Amount: $2,500
Date of penalty: September 17, 2007
Initial inspection of this project noted multiple violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. A gas line contact had occurred, and the violations included a high-risk violation where a worker was observed working 7.5 m (25 ft.) above grade without fall protection. The violations and circumstances at the worksite indicated a lack of coordination of health and safety activities by the employer, who was the prime contractor for the site. The firm provided a notice of compliance representing it had achieved compliance; however, two follow-up inspections in the three months following this inspection revealed that the firm continued to be in non-compliance with the same provisions, indicating wilful or reckless disregard of its obligations under the Workers Compensation Act and the Regulation.
Company: North Shore Home & Property Services Ltd., Sunningdale
Estates, 4768 Ladner Trunk Road, Delta
Classification unit: Window, gutter, or awning cleaning
Amount: $13,556
Date of penalty: August 24, 2007
Repeat failure to ensure that workers are protected from a fall hazard when
working at elevations above 3 m (10 ft.). Repeat violation of failure to provide adequate instruction to workers to ensure their health and safety.
Company: Arrow Marine Services Ltd., 11580 Mitchell Road, Richmond
Classification unit: Structural repair of marine pleasure craft
Amount: $6,084
Date of penalty: July 27, 2007
A worker was assigned to work (applying paint) in a confined space. The company had no confined space entry program, case administrator, hazard assessments, written safe work procedures, ventilation, air monitoring, trained supervisors, or rescue procedures.
Company: West One Enterprises (Port Hardy) Ltd., DBA Seagate Hotel, 8600 Granville Street, Port Hardy
Classification unit: Hotel
Amount: $10,460
Date of penalty: March 15, 2007
Repeat violations of the environmental tobacco smoke provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
Company: Marusa Marketing Inc., 1500 Hardy Street, Kelowna
Classification unit: Call centre
Amount: $14,584
Date of penalty: December 14, 2006
Continued non-compliance with outstanding orders pertaining to first aid measures and providing WorkSafeBC with a compliance plan in respect of the same.
Company: Famous Players Limited Partnership, DBA Famous Players, 14211 Entertainment Way, Richmond
Classification unit: Movie theatre or drive-in theatre
Amount: $28,964
Date of penalty: December 4, 2006
Two workers were observed working without fall protection on a canopy deck 3.5 m (11 ft., 6 in.) above the main entrance of a theatre complex.
Company: Sandhurst Properties Inc., 24796 Dewdney Truck Road, Maple Ridge
Classification unit: Service station
Amount: $24,487
Date of penalty: December 1, 2006
Fatality. Failure to effectively train and supervise workers resulted in an attendant being exposed to unnecessary hazards, resulting in death.
Company: Aztech Environmental Consulting Services Ltd., 7159 148 Street, Surrey
Classification unit: Industrial Testing
Amount: $2,500
Date of penalty: October 16, 2006
The employer repeatedly failed to ensure that the procedures for the control, handling, or use of asbestos were in accordance with procedures acceptable to WorkSafeBC. In particular, the employer failed to control the spread of dust and contaminated debris and did not provide adequate decontamination facilities. The employer failed to provide adequate instruction, training, and supervision to its workers.
Company: 650443 BC Ltd., Howard Johnson Arbutus Hotel, 275 8th Street, Courtenay
Classification unit: Hotel
Amount: $15,315
Date of penalty: September 7, 2006
Repeat non-compliance with requirements for: (1) safety committee; (2) health and safety program; (3) first aid record keeping; (4) accident investigations; (5) violence prevention program; and (6) equipment guarding.
Company: 874122 Alberta Ltd., DBA Shotgun Willy's, 12 8 Avenue South, Cranbrook
Classification unit: Pub, bar, night club, or lounge
Amount: $5,000
Date of penalty: June 19, 2006
Repeat violation for allowing patrons to smoke in the bar, thus exposing workers to second-hand smoke.
Company: Arbutus Tree Service Ltd., Private residence, 3676 West 50 Avenue, Vancouver
Classification unit: Tree services (not directly related to the forestry industry)
Amount: $2,555
Date of penalty: May 24, 2006
The worksite was not inspected by a qualified person prior to tree pruning close to energized conductors. Workers were not informed of the voltage of the conductors. Tree pruning was performed less than 3 m (10 ft.) away from a high-voltage power line in the absence of an assurance by the owner of the power system that any re-close feature (for the line) was disabled.
Company: 454486 BC Ltd., DBA Creston Hotel, Creston Hotel (Jimmy's Pub), 1418 Canyon Street, Creston
Classification unit: Hotel
Amount: $25,464
Date of penalty: May 17, 2006
Hygiene officers observed patrons smoking in the premises and that the firm's staff took no steps to prevent this activity. Numerous prior orders have been issued to the firm pursuant to section 4.81 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation pertaining to environmental tobacco smoke.
Company: Northern Linen Supply Ltd., 3902 Kenworth Road, Prince George
Classification unit: Dry cleaning facility or laundromat
Amount: $5,073
Date of penalty: May 1, 2006
Repeat failure to establish and maintain a joint health and safety committee and to implement a WHMIS program in a workplace in a dry cleaning facility where chemicals are used daily.
Company: New Westminster School District #40, DBA New Westminster Secondary School, 835 Eighth Street, New Westminster
Classification unit: Public school district
Amount: $75,000
Date of penalty: December 19, 2005
Removing asbestos-containing flooring materials without following appropriate work procedures to control or minimize the generation of airborne asbestos fibres and not taking precautions to protect workers.
Company: Donovan Management Ltd., Place Vanier Residence Commons, 1935 Lower Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Classification unit: Construction management consulting
Amount: $3,900
Date of penalty: December 14, 2005
The firm was the prime contractor at a multi-employer worksite. The penalty was imposed because of the firm's failure as the prime contractor to establish and maintain a system or process to ensure compliance with the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. This was a high-risk and repeat violation.
Company: Vancouver Island Health Authority, DBA Cowichan District Hospital, 3045 Gibbins Road, Duncan
Classification unit: Acute care
Amount: $67,500
Date of penalty: October 28, 2005
Failure to have an asbestos inventory on site, which led to the disturbance
of asbestos-containing materials during the demolition of an operating room.
Company: Levett Auto Metal Ltd., 183 Pemberton Avenue, North Vancouver
Classification unit: Autobody shop
Amount: $11,299
Date of penalty: July 20, 2005
The firm repeatedly refused entry to WorkSafeBC prevention officers, stating that entry would not be permitted without an appointment, despite being informed that WorkSafeBC officers have the authority under the Workers Compensation Act to conduct inspections without prior notice. The Review Division upheld the penalty and increased the amount. On appeal, WCAT upheld the penalty, reducing the amount payable to that originally recommended by the prevention officer.
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