Operators of Buckerfield's in south Nanaimo have been fined more than $25,000 following a WorkSafe BC investigation. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

safety violations

Nanaimo business fined $25K for ‘repeated high-risk safety violations’

Feb 10, 2023 | 1:36 PM

NANAIMO — A local business operator had a notable fine levied against them for how it handled an on-site rodent infestation, resulting in a serious illness to an employee.

A WorkSafe BC penalty summary stated their agency attended Buckerfield’s to find a worker exposed to pesticides and other hazardous biological chemical agents during a cleanup of the infestation.

The worker “later developed a serious illness from exposure,” the publicly available penalty summary stated.

The business was fined $25,557 and the penalty was imposed on Jan. 24.

“WorkSafeBC’s investigation determined that no risk assessment had been conducted for the cleanup work, no exposure control plan or safe work procedures were in place, and the equipment provided was not intended for cleanup of hazardous substances.”

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In addition, representatives of the Nanaimo Buckerfields failed to ensure the health and safety of all workers at its business and failed to ensure workers were made aware of all reasonable risks.

“These were both repeated violations.”

WorkSafeBC flagged the south Nanaimo business for failing to develop and implement an exposure control plan based on a risk assessment conducted by a qualified person.

“In addition, the firm failed to ensure that equipment was capable of safely performing its function and was used and operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and that appropriate personal protective equipment was supplied and used.”

The Buckerfield’s in question is located at South Parkway Plaza in Nanaimo’s Chase River neighbourhood.

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