Industrial camp operator fined over $200K for COVID-19 related worker death near Farmington

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — An industrial camp operating company was fined over $200,000 for a worker’s death due to COVID-19 complications.

A $206,346.90 fine was given to the Horizon North Camps and Catering Partnership in September 2023, and a summary of the penalty was recently released to the public.

According to WorkSafeBC, the agency visited Sanataa Lodge on Sanataa Road near Farmington, operated by the firm, after a worker was found deceased in their room on December 13th, 2021.

The work site is an industrial camp which provides food and lodging services for industrial workers.

WorkSafeBC’s investigation found the firm’s procedures for COVID-19 were not being followed.

In the inspection report, WorkSafeBC says the deceased was still working for a few days before he was put into isolation, and while in isolation, no wellness checks were performed to support him.

The procedures and policies included physical distancing, temperature checks, reporting symptoms, isolating and seeking medical attention.

WorkSafeBC says the firm failed to implement an exposure plan and did not provide new workers with health and safety training.

The firm additionally failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety, which was a repeated violation.

According to WorkSafeBC, these were all high-risk violations.