FILE PHOTO.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Cali Gee

Two Kamloops contractors have been fined after workers were injured trying to retrieve high-visibility vests that had fallen onto power lines.

WorkSafeBC issued fines Oct. 13 to Cityview Exteriors and Istvan Mathe doing business as IM Stucco and Stone for very similar infractions where workers tried to retrieve their high-vis vests from power lines at the same apartment building construction site.

WorkSafeBC say a subcontracted worker for Cityview Exteriors was standing on scaffolding when they used a piece of metal channel to try to retrieve a high-visibility vest that had fallen on a live power line.

"The electricity contacted back through the metal channel and scaffolding, and the worker sustained serious injuries," WorkSafeBC said in a media release issued today, Dec. 13

An investigation into the incident found the scaffolding hadn't been erected properly and the firm had not done hazard assessments, did not hold health and safety meetings with its subcontracted workers and did not conduct health and safety inspections.

WorkSafeBC said the infraction was a repeated violation for Cityview Exteriors and issued a $9,614 fine.

Separately, WorkSafeBC issued IM Stucco & Stone a $2,500 fine after a worker received serious injuries trying to retrieve a high-vis vest from a live power line in a separate incident.

"WorkSafeBC’s investigation identified deficiencies related to the scaffold, which had not been erected in accordance with (the) manufacturer’s instructions or a professional engineer," the media release said. "WorkSafeBC also determined that workers had not been adequately trained and the required precautions to be used when working near power lines had not been implemented. The firm failed to ensure scaffolds were in (a) safe condition and were able to withstand the load, and failed to ensure workers and tools remained the minimum distance from exposed electrical equipment and conductors."

These are two of three recent incidents involving working being injured while working near power lines in Kamloops in the last few months.

In October, Tri City Canada was fined $34,169 after a worker was seriously injured trying to use a piece of metal to retrieve a high-visibility vest from a power line.

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