BC Tree Fruits Cooperative has been fined more than $200,000 for alleged health and safety violations at its Oliver packinghouse on Co-op Avenue. (File photo)
BC Tree Fruits Cooperative in Oliver is facing a significant fine for alleged workplace health and safety violations.
WorkSafeBC has confirmed that the plant on Co-op Avenue was issued a fine of $218,430 as a result of alleged violations found during two separate inspections in 2016.
During the first inspection, WorkSafeBC observed two of the plant’s employees working on the top of a condenser unit located on the roof of a mechanical room.
“The workers were not using any form of fall protection and had no fall protection equipment with them on the roof,” the inspector reported.
He noted that only one worker had received fall protection training. The other employee was new to the trade and had not received any training on fall protection.
“At the time of my inspection no one in a supervisory capacity was aware of this work taking place, and no safe work procedures were in place to control the hazards associated with working at heights greater than 10 feet.”
This contravenes the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, which states than an employer must ensure that fall protection is used when work is being done from which a fall of three metres (10 feet) or more may occur.
It was noted that work conditions had changed since similar tasks were last performed. For example, permanent guardrails had been removed, but the firm had not assessed how work tasks would be affected by these changes.
“The workers were not supervised and had not received instructions regarding the use of fall protection for the work area and the safety procedures required prior to accessing the area,” said WorkSafeBC.
The workers in this case were exposed to the risk of falling up to 9.8 metres (32 feet).
The employees were called down from the roof and the assistant manager was summoned. The work was halted until fall protection equipment was obtained and a safe work procedure was developed. This procedure must address the type of system to be used, including adequate anchor points.
“There was only a little work to finish so the trained worker was allowed to finish up using a fall restraint system,” the inspector reported.
During the second inspection, WorkSafeBC observed that the sprocket and chain guards were missing from the bin dumper, and belt drives in the ammonia room were inadequately guarded.
According to the report, the firm failed to ensure that every gear and chain sprocket was completely enclosed, and failed to adequately guard the in-running nip points of power transmission belts.
WorkSafeBC noted these were repeated violations based on similar violations occurring at the firm’s other locations.
“The firm’s failure to ensure the use of fall protection was a high-risk violation.”
But Chris Pollock, spokesman for BC Tree Fruits, told the Oliver Chronicle that workplace safety is one of their top priorities.
“As a daily practice, we endeavour to comply with all WorkSafeBC regulations and continue to improve awareness of established safety procedures with all our staff.”
Pollock said the company is appealing the fines.
“With this process still ongoing with WorkSafeBC, there isn’t a lot I can comment on,” he said.
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
