Kelowna Capital News | WorkSafeBC has issued a fine to Axis Family Resources for what it said was deemed a “high risk” violation at a worksite in Williams Lake.
WorkSafeBC states the fine was issued for the amount of $467,496.80 in relation to asbestos at a residential social services facility.
It inspected the worksite to review the implementation of their exposure control plan after facility walls with identified asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) had been damaged and needed repairs.
WorkSafeBC said they issued a stop-work order as a result of what they found during their site visit.
As the owner of the building, the firm failed to ensure the asbestos abatement contractor held a valid licence and that all ACMs present in the workplace were identified with signs or labels, and the organisation failed to ensure the health and safety of workers at the site.
WorkSafeBC said these were repeated violations, and the firm failed to take the necessary precautions to protect workers before work to potentially disturb the ACMs went ahead.
According to WorkSafeBC, asbestos exposure is the number one killer of workers in the province and contributed to 32 work-related deaths in 2024.
WorkSafeBC requires mandatory training and licensing for asbestos abatement work.
