Drilling company fined $75,000 for serious workplace accident

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — According to a publication from WorkSafeBC’s January/February edition of WorkSafe magazine, Western Energy Services Corp./Horizon Drilling Division has been fined $75,000 for a workplace accident that took place on Sept. 9, 2015 near Dawson Creek.

The report says a young worker for the firm was seriously injured while they were troubleshooting a fan on a steam heater at an oil and gas site.

After an investigation, WorkSafeBC says they found that the work wasn’t up to lockout requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

“The firm lacked specific lockout procedures for the steam heater as well as for other equipment at the site,” the report reads, despite being ordered by WorkSafeBC to develop equipment-specific lockout procedures, after a previous inspection.

WorkSafeBC also made claims the firm exposed workers to environmental tobacco smoke by failing to prohibit smoking in the workplace.

In summary, they say, “the firm failed to provide its workers with the training and supervision needed to ensure their health and safety.”

Western Energy Services Corp. did not respond to a request for a comment.