WorksafeBC handed out record fines in 2011
Posted February 28, 2012 6:30 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – WorksafeBC handed out more than $4.8 million in penalties against companies last year — a new record for the workplace safety watchdog.
A total of 352 penalties were handed out to 289 companies in 2011. WorksafeBC lead investigator Jeff Dolan said that’s up from the $3.1 million 286 companies were fined in 2010.
“A fine is issued when there is a repeated or a serious violation of the health and safety laws by an employer,” said Dolan. “The formula that is applied is: The larger [the company’s] payroll, the larger the fine.”
Dolan said one reason for the increase is a focus on asbestos.
“Of the total number of penalties that were issued, 53, or 15 per cent of the total, were related to asbestos,” Dolan said.
“There was a campaign targeting asbestos in 2011 — more specifically, those service providers that were misrepresenting themselves by providing those services to homebuilders when they are not qualified or licensed to do so.”
Penalties ranged from $750 for a minor infraction to $250,000 for a workplace death. The size of the fine also depends on the size of the company.
“Monetary penalties are imposed on employers for repeated or serious violations of occupational health and safety regulations and to motivate them to comply with their legal responsibilities,” Dolan said. “An employer is not penalized if they have taken all reasonable steps to prevent risks to their workers.”
The maximum penalty allowed is adjusted each year. In 2011 it was $579,648.26.