United Roofing was fined $12,824.17 after one of its employees fell one storey from a balcony at the Gabriola condo building on Nanaimo's downtown waterfront this past April. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

roofer injured

Roofer falls from Nanaimo balcony, employer fined

Aug 12, 2026 | 5:32 AM

NANAIMO — Improperly secured while cleaning rooftop patios, a roofer fell from a downtown balcony in what WorkSafeBC described as “a serious workplace incident.”

It happened this past April 20 at the Gabriola condo building on Promenade Dr. on Cameron Island, adjacent to the Nanaimo Harbour ferry terminal, in which the worker fell from a fifth-storey balcony onto the balcony one level below, according to WorkSafe BC.

“The firm failed to ensure that an effective fall protection system was used, that it had a written fall protection plan for the workplace, and that workers were instructed in the fall protection system and procedures to be followed before being allowed into an area where a risk of falling exists,” a WorkSafe BC penalty summary read.

United Roofing Inc. was fined $12,824.17, which the firm requested to be reviewed.

Numerous safety violations were flagged in an inspection report by WorkSafeBC. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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According to an inspection report authored by Nanaimo-based occupational safety officer James Leach, United Roofing had not provided its workers with adequate information, instruction, training or supervision to ensure their health and safety.

“This is evidenced by the lack of a fall protection plan and clear direction to the workers for fall protection systems to be used and where the anchor must be placed.”

Falling on a series of planters, as opposed to impacting a flat surface, represented an increased injury risk, Leach’s report stated.

“The employer stated to me that the worker did not have the fall restrain system adjusted properly to prevent the fall,” he wrote.

Leach also stated documentation for pre-use inspections for the scaffolding system used was not produced by the employer.

Workers were removing organic material from rooftop patios, planters and decks to apply waterproofing membrane at the time of the accident.

Roofing represents a high-risk trade in the province, in particular falls from elevation.

Between 2020 and 2024, WorkSafeBC reported 5,400 injury claims, nearly 1,900 serious injuries, and 35 fatalities involving roofers province-wide.

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by Ian Holmes

Roofer falls from Nanaimo balcony, employer fined

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