WorkSafeBC issues Fraser Valley construction fines

WorkSafeBC has announced penalties issued to several Fraser Valley construction employers in June and July, citing hazards including falls, excavation work and unsafe traffic control.

Surrey-based Langley Roofing Co. Ltd. was fined $19,232.06 after continuing roof replacement work in Chilliwack despite a stop-work order issued because the site lacked fall protection. Chilliwack’s M & M Excavating Services Ltd. received a $24,493.43 penalty after an excavator struck a gas line at a Langley worksite; WorkSafeBC found the company had expanded its excavation area without assessing underground utilities.

Bassi & Sons Construction Ltd. in Abbotsford was fined $2,500 after an inspection found no guardrails to prevent workers from falling into an excavated basement level. WorkSafeBC classified the violation as high risk.

Popular Stucco Wiring Ltd. of Surrey was also fined $2,500 after an employee was seen working without fall protection on a sloped roof in Langley Township, with a potential fall of 3.4 metres. Uppal Plastering & Stucco Ltd. of Surrey was fined $2,559.91 for improperly set up scaffolding at a three-storey home.

Ace Excavation received a $33,927.59 penalty after a traffic-control person was seen directing traffic from an active roadway in Langley Township. WorkSafeBC said construction remains one of B.C.’s highest-risk sectors, with many serious injuries involving preventable hazards.