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Two Kelowna companies have been hit with sizable fines by WorkSafeBC.

The agency said that both fines were due to “high-risk violations” that resulted in a worker being seriously injured.

Rebo Beton Pumping Ltd. was fined $14,868.51, while Premier Craft Homes Ltd. was hit with a $5,279.42 fine.

According to WorkSafeBC, Rebo Beton Pumping’s undated violation came as the company supplied concrete pumping services for the construction of a house.

“One of the firm’s workers accessed a wood frame scaffold inside an excavation to place the concrete with a concrete line hose,” explained a release from the agency.

“The scaffold failed and the worker fell into the excavation, sustaining serious injuries.”

A WorkSafeBC inspection found that the scaffold lacked guardrails and had not been erected according to applicable standards.

The excavation work had also not been done in accordance with the written instructions of a qualified professional, the release noted.

WorkSafeBC said that Rebo Beton Pumping had not conducted a hazard assessment and failed to ensure that an excavation was benched, shored or otherwise supported as required.

In addition, the firm failed to ensure that scaffolds used by workers were safe and able to withstand the load, regardless of who erected the scaffold.

According to WorkSafeBC, the five-digit fine was a result of the multiple high-risk violations.

The incident involving Premier Craft Homes happened on Aug. 9, 2021 as the firm installed concrete formwork for the foundation of a new house and the scaffold needed to facilitate the work.

“A worker from another firm was seriously injured during the concrete placement process when the scaffolding failed,” the agency said.

“WorkSafeBC inspected the site and observed that the scaffold and formwork had been installed in an unsupported excavation with near-vertical cut sides and a depth of about 2.7 metres (nine feet).”

The agency added that the work had not been done in accordance with the written instructions of a qualified professional and the firm failed to ensure excavations were sloped, benched, shored or otherwise supported as required.

This high-risk violation was accompanied by the fact that the firm failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure their heat and safety, WorkSafeBC explained.

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