[Newsbot]

Title: Gordon Campbell cited by WorkSafe BC for death at his vacation home
Category: Business
Posted By: BeaverFever
Date: 2012-03-06 12:45:11
Canadian

[BeaverFever]

Interesting lesson....

[Brenda]

BeaverFever BeaverFever:

Interesting lesson....

For everyone who will get work done by a contractor...

[andyt]

Sounds like the guy was responsible for his own death. I don't see much blame to go around here.

[BeaverFever]

Me neither...I just don't think most people, including myself, would have thought to check the terms of the contract.

[Freakinoldguy]

I hate to say it but this sounds more like the companies and province are now trying to pass on the responsibility and cost of worksite safety to the consumer contrary to what their mandate originally was.

$1:

The WCB is funded 100% by BC employers. Funding covers all aspects of WCB operations, including claims costs. Most employers pay for WCB coverage for their employees through premiums that are based on total payroll. The BC Public Service as an employer is different, in that it pays the WCB the actual costs of a claim plus an additional fee to cover its share of WCB operational costs.

Given this strange turn of events, I guess everytime anyone in BC hires a contractor to do any work they'll have to get them to sign a waiver stating that they have Insurance, WorkSafe BC accrediation and are the Primary Contractor.

[BeaverFever]

I think what they are trying to do is make a clear distinction with little grey area between when YOU, the homeowner, hire some guys to do work for you and are the liable employer and when you hire a contractor that should assume the liability. I guess the offical "Primary Contractor" designation clause is key.

It's just odd to me because for something so important, it seems to be a little-known.

[Freakinoldguy]

Strange you should say that, because in today's paper they had an article that said the company of the deceased workerr was going to be fined, and Gordo was gonna be cited but not have to pay anything.

Does it mean that you as the homeowner and primary contractor "could" still be held responsible and fined, even though Campbell wasn't or, was a precedent set when he got cited and not fined and things will carry on just as before?

But, whatever happens it's an interesting concept that should make everyone who's contemplating a renovation think twice about who they hire.