Construction company levied $29,000 fine by WorkSafeBC

MOBERLY LAKE, B.C. — A Dawson Creek-based business was levied a fine of $29,453.95 by the province’s government safety watchdog. 

According to the safety authority’s penalty summary page, the penalty was imposed on Carl Chandler Contracting/Celtic Construction on January 27th by WorkSafeBC due to alleged violations on a worksite in Moberly Lake.

WorkSafeBC wrote the company, which was formed in the 1990s, was the primary contractor for the worksite, and inspectors “issued a stop-use order after observing safety deficiencies with the temporary stairs, which were the only means of accessing the building.”

In the inspector’s report, they also alleged workers failed to have proper contact information for a first aid attendant, who was not on the site – a violation of WorkSafeBC regulations, which state such an individual “must always be available to provide treatment as quickly as possible if a worker is injured.”

The report also said the firm “failed to ensure there was a safe way of entering and leaving the workplace, a high-risk violation,” along with a failure to ensure the health and safety of all workers on-site.

The company, formed by Carl Chandler in 1994, is a construction contractor based in Dawson Creek offering residential, commercial and real-estate development services, according to its website.

Energeticcity.ca reached out to company representatives but did not immediately hear back.