A Lower Mainland health and recovery organization has been hit with a six-figure fine for providing "insufficient" measures to reduce the risk of violence at its Tri-Cities facility.
Coast Mental Health was setback a total of $133,755.21 after an inspection of Hillside Cottage last fall led to a failing grade for risk assessment.
The building is noted as a Port Coquitlam site by WorkSafeBC, but its address is Campion Way on the Coquitlam side of Lougheed Highway.
In its public report, the provincial agency stated Coast Mental Health "did not adequately address matters" important for its 40-bed social services housing facility.
This included keeping records of off-site appointments, clients' medication status and "access to kitchen sharps."
"The employer failed to ensure its violence risk assessment included consideration of the work location and circumstances," WorkSafeBC added in its statement.
"This was a repeated violation."
Coast Mental Health was issued the hefty ticket on Nov. 24, 2022. The organization, found in 1974, is formerly known as Coast Foundation Society.
Hillside Cottage is said to support 15 women and 25 men recovering from severe mental illnesses and addiction.
Patients are referred to the facility from the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addictions or the Heartwood Treatment Centre for Women, according to Coast Mental Health's website.
Coquitlam construction sites
Meanwhile, two Surrey-based companies were recently slapped with significant fines for safety violations in Coquitlam.
Paragon-BC was ticketed $5,000 for failing to implement fall protection systems at two-storey house, as well as handrails and guards on stairways, doors and windows during construction.
WorkSafeBC issued a stop-work order as a result of the inspection and the violation was issued on Dec. 13, 2022.
The framing business had exposed its workers to a potential 12-foot fall off a 4:12 steep sloped roof, a public report explained, and didn't provide them with instruction, training or supervision while working on the sloped roof.
4:12 = The roof rises four inches for every foot inward towards the peak.
As well, Paragon-BC is said to have lacked accessibility and the means to ensure everyone involved was protected when moving about the work site.
At another two-storey house in Coquitlam, WorkSafeBC said Anytime Roofing Ltd.exposed its employees to a potential fall of 23 feet to the ground and was fined $2,500.
While working on a 4:12 steep-slope roofing project, inspectors noticed two workers unattached to safety lines despite wearing their fall protection harnesses.
"The firm failed to ensure fall protection was used, and failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety," WorkSafeBC's report said.
"These were both repeated and high-risk violations."
Anytime Roofing was handed the ticket on Nov. 29, 2022.
