As construction ramps up with the warmer weather, WorkSafeBC is reminding employers and workers to protect themselves on the job.
Last year, the agency took in more than 1,000 claims due to falls from heights — one of the leading causes of workplace injuries and deaths.
WorkSafeBC said many construction workers don’t use fall protection adequately because of time pressures or a perception the task is safe.
“All workers need to take the time to be protected and go home safe every day,” the agency told the Tri-City News, citing recent local penalties:
- Allaire Construction Inc.
- fined $28,424.30 on March 25, 2025, while it was the prime contractor at a townhouse construction site in Coquitlam.
- “WorkSafeBC attended the site and observed multiple safety deficiencies related to worksite inspections, fall protection, safe access, first aid provisions, crane operator training, load rigging and engineer documentation for formwork. As prime contractor of a multiple-employer workplace, the firm failed to ensure health and safety activities were coordinated and to establish and maintain a system of regulatory compliance. This was a repeated violation.”
- Kadium Construction Ltd.
- fined $2,500 on March 25, 2025, at a Coquitlam townhouse development.
- “WorkSafeBC inspected the site during the excavation phase and advised the firm that they needed to have written confirmation from a structural engineer that the perimeter foundation wall was capable of supporting the excavation before removing the rakers. During a follow-up inspection, WorkSafeBC observed that most of the rakers had been removed but no engineer's confirmation had been obtained. A stop-work order was issued. The firm failed to ensure that its excavation was supported as specified in writing by a professional engineer. This was a repeated violation.”
- Kamatt Ventures Ltd.
- fined $2,500 on March 18, 2025, while disassembling a crane in Port Coquitlam.
- “While leaning over the guardrail of a scissor lift to remove parts from a beam, a worker was struck by a moving crane bridge. The worker sustained serious injuries. WorkSafeBC's investigation determined no fall arrest system or other fall protection was in place at the time of the incident, exposing the worker to a fall risk of about 6.8 m (22 ft.). The firm failed to ensure fall protection was used and failed to ensure its equipment was capable of safely performing its functions. In addition, the firm failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety. These were all high-risk violations.”
- Baraich Construction Ltd.
- fined $2,500 on March 6, 2025, while framing a residential building in Port Coquitlam.
- “WorkSafeBC inspected the site and observed a worker at the leading edge of the second storey. No guardrail or other form of fall protection was in place, exposing the worker to a fall risk of about 7.3 m (24 ft.). The firm failed to ensure fall protection was used, a repeated and high-risk violation.”
April is Construction Month in B.C.
