The highest penalty in British Columbia imposed by WorksafeBC for a safety violation in 2010 was given to a roofing contractor, while the construction industry accounted for the largest share of penalties. The executive director of the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) says falls are the largest cause of injury.
VANCOUVER
The highest penalty imposed by WorksafeBC for a safety violation in 2010 was given to a roofing contractor, while the construction industry accounted for the largest share of penalties.
“If I look at the data, it indicates again that falls are the largest cause of injury in the construction industry and the highest driver of cost,” said Mike Mckenna, executive director of the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA).
“If you look at who is receiving the highest fines in the group, it is the roofers.”
Last year, WorkSafeBC imposed 256 penalties, totalling $3.2 million against employers for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and the Workers Compensation Act.
“WorkSafeBC penalizes employers who have not been motivated by other means to comply with their responsibility to ensure their workplaces are healthy and safe,” said Donna Wilson, vice-president of the Industry Services & Sustainability Division of WorkSafeBC.
“A penalty is not imposed if an employer is found to have taken all reasonable steps to prevent circumstances that involve violations that can lead to serious injury or death.”
Employers from 58 industry classifications received penalties in 2010, with companies in five construction-related activities accounting for 65 per cent (168) of the penalties imposed.
Those companies were in the following industry classifications:
• Steep Slope Roofing: 34.7 per cent (89)
• House or Other Wood Frame General Contracting, Construction or Renovation Work: 11.3 per cent (29)
• Framing or Residential Forming: 10.9 per cent (28) – Low Slope Roofing: 4.68 per cent (12)
• Industrial, Commercial, Institutional or Highrise Residential General Contracting or Construction: 3.9 per cent (10).
The 256 penalties issued in 2010 were imposed against 232 individual employers, with penalty amounts ranging from $1,000 to $145,046.98.
The highest penalty in 2010 was imposed on Penfolds Roofing for an incident in which two workers were on a roof between 4.5 metres and six metres above grade, without using fall protection. Penfolds was fined $145,046.98.
“Roofers are turning their mind to using more sophisticated fall-protection systems,” said McKenna.
“But, we have to continue to get out the message that it is not appropriate to go on a roof without fall protection.”
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