㽶Ƶֱ

Skip to content

B.C. to appeal $710K WorkSafeBC penalty on 㽶Ƶֱunsafe㽶Ƶֱ wildfire practices

Province says improvements are warranted, but the fine amount is 㽶Ƶֱdisproportionately high㽶Ƶֱ
web1_230621-avn-cameron-bluffs-june19-update-alberni_1
Danger tree falling has been completed over Highway 4 at Cameron Bluffs. The landscape looks different as the fire continues to smoulder, but is considered 㽶Ƶֱunder control.㽶Ƶֱ (BC WILDFIRE SERVICE PHOTO)

The province says it plans to appeal the amount of a penalty imposed by WorkSafeBC for 㽶Ƶֱunsafe㽶Ƶֱ wildfire practices in B.C.㽶Ƶֱs northeastern region.

WorkSafeBC issued the $710,488 administrative penalty on Oct. 26, 2023, according to the recently posted decision. The incident happened in Wonowon, about 89 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John.

The decision states the provincial government was the owner of the worksite where tree falling and other wildfire fuel reduction activities were taking place, and when WorkSafeBC inspected the site, they found evidence of 㽶Ƶֱunsafe falling cuts, including stumps with insufficient holding wood.㽶Ƶֱ

WorkSafe added that the province didn㽶Ƶֱt verify tree faller certification and didn㽶Ƶֱt actively monitor work, 㽶Ƶֱas required by its falling safety program.㽶Ƶֱ

㽶ƵֱAs owner of a forestry operation, the employer failed to ensure all activities were both planned and conducted in a manner consistent with regulatory requirements and with safe work practices acceptable to WorkSafeBC.㽶Ƶֱ

In an emailed response to Black Press Media, B.C. Forests Ministry said the province agrees that process improvements are warranted, but that the amount of the penalty imposed is 㽶Ƶֱarbitrary and disproportionately high.㽶Ƶֱ

The ministry says the penalty was calculated using he entire Government of B.C.㽶Ƶֱs payroll for what they 㽶Ƶֱbelieve should be a specific location infraction.㽶Ƶֱ It will appeal the penalty to 㽶Ƶֱensure it is appropriate for the level of work carried out㽶Ƶֱ and the region it happened in.

㽶ƵֱWe are disappointed by what happened. Everyone should be able to perform their work safely. We are taking action, working with all contractors and sub-contractors to ensure we meet the high standards we always strive to achieve.㽶Ƶֱ

The statement adds that the ministry requires that all contractors are Safety Accord Forest Enterprise certified, which means the contractor has its own safety program to ensure safety certification standards are met along with WorkSafeBC Regulations.

The Forests Ministry will be reviewing its safety and contracting processes and procedures to ensure all contractors meet the current requirement to be fully certified for hazardous work, such as falling trees.

READ MORE:

Breaking News You Need To Know

Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters.

Sign Up with google Sign Up with facebook

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.

Reset your password

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.

A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox.



Don't have an account? Click here to sign up


Lauren Collins

About the Author: Lauren Collins

I'm a provincial reporter for Black Press Media's provincial team, after my journalism career took me around B.C. since I was 19 years old.
Read more



(or

㽶Ƶֱ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }