WorkSafeBC issues $2.9 million in fines, with biggest penalty to Aquilini farm

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VANCOUVER – WorkSafeBC imposed penalties for safety violations totalling $2.9 million last year.

The highest fine for a single violation came against Vancouver Canucks co-owner Francesco Aquilini and his family for failing to maintain some vehicles on their blueberry farm.

It was the second violation issued since 2011 for Aquilini, his brother and his mother and amounted to a $125,000 fine for some unsafe vehicles used to transport workers at their Pitt Meadows business.

WorksafeBC spokeswoman Alexandra Skinner-Reynolds says the Aquilinis appealed the two violations but both were upheld, and they may have filed another appeal with the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal.

Burnaby company Skylite Building Maintenance Ltd., was handed the largest penalty of $227,500, for three separate violations over repeatedly exposing workers to asbestos.

A total of 225 employers were fined last year, involving six fatalities, and 85 per cent of the companies were in the construction sector.

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