WORKSAFEBC  on Monday announced that it recently imposed a penalty on HS Dhanoa Construction Ltd. for $2,500, for high-risk violations at a Surrey worksite.

The penalty was imposed on January 19.

It said it is reminding employers and workers to follow workplace health and safety regulations, and public health orders and direction.

WorkSafeBC said it investigated an incident at this firm’s townhouse construction site. The worker, who was also a representative of the firm, was on a non-compliant, job-built scaffold installing roof trusses at the third floor. The worker fell from the unguarded scaffold and sustained injuries.

“The firm failed to ensure that scaffold platforms were the required minimum width, that the scaffold had guardrails or that fall protection was used, and that elevated floor and window openings were adequately guarded,” WorkSafeBc said.

“The firm also failed to ensure the health and safety of all its workers, and to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety. These were all high-risk violations. The firm also failed to maintain a record of safety meetings and matters discussed.”

Background on fall protections:

· Falls from heights, even relatively low elevations, can result in serious injuries.

· Falls from elevation continue to drive the serious injury rate in construction.

· The proper use of fall protection equipment — in addition to planning, supervision, and training — can reduce or eliminate the risk of falling.

· The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires workers to use fall protection systems when they could fall from a height of 3 m (10 ft.) or more, or where a fall from a lesser height could result in serious injury.