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Penalty issued to Surrey roofing company
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Richmond, B.C., December 7, 2005—WorkSafeBC (the Workers’ Compensation Board) has imposed a $48,735.92 penalty against N.P. Roofing Inc. of Surrey for failing to provide fall protection in an incident that resulted in severe injuries to a young worker.
The incident occurred on September 26, 2003 when a 20 year-old worker visiting from India on a student visa fell more than 16 feet to the ground while working on a residential roof. The worker suffered multiple injuries, including a ruptured spleen and kidney, a fractured leg and wrist, and injuries to his hip.
“This was a preventable incident that could have easily killed the young worker,” said Roberta Ellis, vice president of the Investigation and Review Divisions of WorkSafeBC. “This employer did not live up to its responsibilities and it resulted in a tragedy,” said Ellis.
The investigation of the incident showed that the employer failed to provide fall protection equipment and training to the worker.
The penalty represents an administrative penalty of $3,250, plus a claim cost levy of $45,485.92.
The main purpose of penalties and levies is, where necessary, to motivate employers to comply with the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. Penalties are considered based on the risk of injury to workers, the employer’s prior history of safety violations, and the steps the employer has taken to ensure safety requirements are complied with at the worksite.
A claim cost levy can be imposed if a worker is injured due to the employer’s negligence, failure to adopt reasonable means for the prevention of injuries or death, or failure to comply with the Regulation.
Year to date, more than 64 penalties have been imposed on employers totaling over $1.5 million.
WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves nearly two million workers and about 179,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born out of a compromise between B.C.'s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. The organization is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits to workers injured as a result of their employment.
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Donna Freeman |
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