PoCo motor shop fined after worker injured by 2,000-pound component

A lack of safety protocols were cited as contributing factors after a worker at Electro Motors Ltd. suffered “serious injuries,” according to an assessment by WorkSafeBC.

Two employees at the electric motor repair shop were moving a 2,000-pound stator – a component in electric motors – on a cart in April 2023.

The cart hit a ridge in the concrete floor and came to a sudden stop. The stator slipped off the cart and struck the worker below the waist.

The stator, which wasn’t secured on the cart, was partially hanging over the edge.

The shop, located at 1730 Coast Meridian Rd., had inadequate safety procedures at the time, according to the inspection report.

The employer didn’t make new workers aware of potential hazards or ensure new workers got health and safety training before starting work.

Besides not providing employees with adequate instruction, training and supervision, the employer also failed to make sure there were regular inspections of the workplace.

“This was evidenced by the ridge in the concrete floor being noticed by workers before, but there was no record of it being reported,” according to the WorkSafeBC investigation report.

The company was fined $4,897.

At a subsequent inspection in January 2024, the employer showed a health and safety program had been initiated and maintained.

The agency credited the employer for “actively striving” to comply with WorkSafeBC’s orders, including instituting monthly safety meetings, regular inspections, and a new worker orientation program.