Violence, mould and rodent feces net Vernon motel $1,250 WorkSafeBC fine

A well-known Vernon motel has been fined $1,250 by WorkSafeBC after the provincial safety agency found a multitude of issues, from a leaking roof to not training staff if violent incidents occur.

According to an inspection report, WorkSafeBC staff visited the Tiki Village Motor Inn in the spring and conducted a workplace inspection and found numerous health and safety violations.

“The employer stated violence is a concern at this workplace. There have been past incidents where the police had been called to provide assistance,” the inspection report says. “The employer had not conducted a violence risk assessment, did not have policies or procedures in place, and had not trained workers in the prevention of violence.

“The employer stated the worker primarily works alone, and there was no procedure for checking in on the well-being of the worker.”

WorkSafeBC also found the shop area of the main office had a leaky roof.

“Buckets were in place to catch water. The ceiling was falling down into the work area. The employer stated the roof had not been assessed structurally, and stated no workers are to be working on the roof,” the report reads. 

The report says the inspector found mould growth in the shop off the main office where water was leaking in.

“Some sections of the drywall had been removed exposing the area behind, where apparent mould was visible. I observed a second unit undergoing repairs resulting from water damage,” the report says.

“A second shop, room 35, had rodent feces on the floor of the shop.”

The report says the motel owner, Vermex Investments, had pest control come in every couple of weeks to manage the rodents.

“The employer must ensure the frequency is sufficient to control the hazard to workers in the workplace,” the report states.

The inspector also found that drywall had been removed because of water damage during renovations and the company hadn’t conducted a pre-renovation hazardous materials survey and workers had no way of knowing if materials contained asbestos.

“The removal of drywall and ceiling texture coat may have disturbed asbestos,” the report reads.

WorkSafeBC gave the motel a month to make various changes.

However, an Aug. 14 WorkSafeBC report states when inspectors returned the eight orders issued hadn’t been implemented.

“Several attempts have been made with the employer via phone calls and emails to obtain compliance for orders… additionally, five follow-up inspection reports have been issued with order compliance due dates,” the report states.

A WorkSafeBC inspector visited the motel in August and found the work hadn’t been done.

“Further, I made several attempts to contact the principal of this firm and have not received a response,” the report reads. “The employer has failed to comply with these orders in a reasonable period of time and is in continued noncompliance.”

The Tiki Village Motor Inn was built in 1964 and was once a popular place to stay for visiting tourists. The motel, whose tag line is “A Taste of Polynesia in the Heart of the Okanagan,” is currently on the market as part of a land assembly which includes six nearby homes and is listed for $6-million. 

Early this year, it made headlines after violent suspected multiple murderer Curtis Sagmoen died there.

Ultimately, WorkSafeBC fined the motel $1,250.