The City of Revelstoke has been fined $34,000 for failing to provide adequate safety instructions to workers handling chlorine at the municipal water treatment plant.

According to an April 7 WorkSafeBC penalty notice, the city failed to provide instruction and training in multiple safety procedures for employees at the plant.

“The employer has not provided the workers with adequate information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure the health and safety of those workers in carrying out their work and to ensure the health and safety of other workers at the workplace,” a WorkSafeBC inspection report reads.

The report outlines multiple steps that have to be taken when working with toxic gases at the Greeley Creek Water Treatment Plant.

“Chlorine, sulphur dioxide, and anhydrous ammonia are all corrosive… if the required precautions are not taken while working with or around these substances, serious injury or death can result,” the report reads.

The report says staff were all qualified to work with the dangerous substances, and the plant received regular maintenance, but numerous safety protocols hadn’t been met.

WorkSafeBC found that the city hadn’t established a joint health and safety committee for staff at the water treatment plant, even after being told to do so.

Annual checks that respirator mask fit staff, also weren’t carried out.

WorkSafeBC found that the water treatment plan hadn’t implemented an exposure control plan in case something were to happen.

Outside of the safety protocols, there were other issues at the water plant.

“The piping that carries chlorine gas from the tonners in the chlorine enclosure to the mixing room are not labelled,” the report reads. “If a hazardous product in a workplace is contained or transferred in a pipe… the employer must ensure the safe use, storage and handling of the hazardous product through worker training and the use of labels.”

WorkSafeBC issued the City of Revelstoke, which runs the municipal water treatment plant, a $33,838 fine.

“The employer failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety,” the penalty notice reads. “These were all repeated violations.”