A Penticton hardware store has been fined $75,000 for having rusty and damaged storage racking in its warehouse.

WorkSafeBC handed out a $75,277 fine to Penticton Home Hardware after an inspector found multiple safety violations during an inspection in March.

“The outdoor storage racking was observed to be generally rusted, with peeling paint on several sections. Many cantilever arms were bent, including some sections that had been taken out of service by the employer and other bent arms that remained in use,” a WorkSafeBC inspection report read. “Multiple locking pins were missing from the storage racking, and some racking sections were not anchored to the floor.”

The shelves have a 3,000 lb. weight limit and WorkSafeBC issued a stop-use order.

The report said Pro Builders Supply, Home Hardware provided a storage rack safety report from April 2025 that showed that the racks were in good condition and conformed to the manufacturer’s specifications.

But the WorkSafeBC inspector saw it differently.

“I observed conditions that were inconsistent with that report… These observations indicate that the inspection did not adequately identify wear, corrosion, damage, missing parts or other conditions necessary to prevent the development of unsafe working conditions,” the report read.

The report stated that when the WorkSafeBC inspector returned in April, the company had hired a warehouse equipment firm to inspect the storage racking, but no work had yet been done.

In issuing the fine, WorkSafeBC described the situation as a high-risk violation.

The report also said the inspector checked the company’s bullying and harassment policy and procedures, which were found to be up to date and in compliance with WorkSafeBC.