Dawson Road Maintenance fined over $240,000 following WorkSafeBC inspection

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — WorkSafeBC has fined Dawson Road Maintenance more than $240,000 following an inspection at a Fort St. John-area work site.

According to the penalty summary, dated December 11th, 2025, Dawson Road Maintenance was fined $248,095.47 for reported violations related to traffic control during a culvert installation project on a public roadway.

“WorkSafeBC inspected the site and observed two traffic control persons (TCPs) who were both using automated flagger assistant devices (AFADs) to control traffic, but were not in safe positions protected from traffic flow,” the summary reads.

The violation was considered by WorkSafeBC as “high risk.”

The agency also determined the traffic control plan in place was deficient. 

WorkSafeBC found the plan did not document escape routes for TCPs, lacked required details about hazards and controls and had not been updated to reflect changes to the work zone or the introduction of new control measures.

WorkSafeBC said all these issues were considered repeated violations.

According to an email from Yesenia Dhott, WorkSafeBC’s government and media relations advisor, working in and around traffic poses serious risks for workers.

“Between 2015 and 2024 in B.C., nine roadside workers were killed after being struck by a vehicle,” Dhott’s email said. “Another 267 were injured and missed work.”

Dhott added employers and supervisors are responsible for protecting workers who are “exposed to the hazards of working along roadways and near traffic.”

Dawson Road Maintenance provides highway maintenance services in four areas of British Columbia, including the North Peace.

Energeticcity.ca reached out to Dawson Road Maintenance for comment but did not immediately receive a response.