Arc Resources fined over $140K following WorkSafeBC inspection

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — WorkSafeBC has fined an energy company more than $100,000 for alleged violations at a Fort St. John work site.

The agency has fined Arc Resources $140,615.83 after an inspection at a worksite near Fort St. John that was initiated due to a workplace incident.

According to the penalty summary dated September 11th, the inspection happened after a worker cleaning the inside of an invert storage tank — a confined space with limited ventilation — began experiencing symptoms of toxic fume exposure.

“WorkSafeBC’s inspection determined there were multiple deficiencies with the firm’s confined space entry procedures,” the summary reads. 

“The firm failed to ensure its hazard assessment considered all potential hazardous conditions of the confined space, a repeated violation, and failed to ensure the hazard assessment and written confined space entry procedures were prepared by a qualified person.”

Arc Resources also allegedly failed to create written procedures that specify the correct way to eliminate all likely hazards, to conduct pre-entry inspections and testing and to ensure its confined spaces were appropriately ventilated while workers were inside.

All of those were described by WorkSafeBC as “high-risk violations.”

“In addition,” the penalty concludes, “the firm failed to ensure the health and safety of all workers present at the workplace, a repeated violation.”

According to an email from Yesenia Dhott, WorkSafeBC’s government and media relations advisor, confined spaces pose a serious risk of injury or death.

“Hazards in confined spaces can result in workers losing consciousness, asphyxiating, drowning or being injured by a fire or explosion,” Dhott said.

“Confined space incidents can happen suddenly, often without any warning that something is wrong. Employers must take the necessary steps to ensure worker safety around confined spaces.”

Energeticcity.ca reached out to Arc Resources for comment and did not immediately receive a response.