Coquitlam company hit with $22k fine
A metal fabrication business on Schoolhouse Street was fined after a WorkSafeBC inspector reported several infractions including high-risk violations.
One worker at the shop, which handles tool and die fabrication as well as metal stamping, was cleaning a punch press that hadn’t been turned off, according to the WorkSafeBC inspection report.
“A worker was actively cleaning the machine with compressed air and their hands while the machine had both pneumatic and electrical power,” the report stated.
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The inspector also spotted a welder using substandard eye protection and another worker failing to use a seat belt.
While welding, one worker wasn’t using a half-face respirator, according to the report, which described the worker using a: “snorkel type fume extraction unit which was approximately one foot from the workpiece and was constructed of hose and what looked like a heating register vent.”
The inspector also documented machines including grinders that had their safeguards removed, a crane without any rated capacity marked on the superstructure, and numerous rigging problems.
“Rigging was observed being used by workers in the workplace which did not have a working load limit, was damaged and the hooks used for rigging the steel plate were missing from four of the observed four hooks,” according to the report.
The company repeatedly failed to ensure safeguards weren’t: “intentionally removed, impaired, or rendered ineffective,” according to WorkSafeBC.
The total fine was $22,317.
The company subsequently complied with the rules on each infraction.
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