As a WorkSafe B.C. investigation looks to run longer than initially planned, the District of Sechelt has signaled its investigation into blasting bylaw violations at the Trail Bay Estates (TBE) site will wrap up imminently, with charges expected to be laid.
"I'm sure we'll see a recommendation [from council] this month," said Sechelt bylaw officer Bruce Haynes, who wrapped up the District's investigation at the Clayton property before Christmas. After a review from their legal counsel, the District, which had indicated it would wait until the WorkSafe report was complete, is now poised to take action on the observed blasting violations from Nov. 1 to 3, 2007.
Section 12 of the District's blasting bylaw makes it clear that anyone who "permits any act or thing to be done in contravention of this bylaw commits an offence," with a stated maximum penalty of $10,000 per offence. Each day an offence continues "shall constitute a separate offence," the bylaw states.
The WorkSafe B.C. (formerly the Workers Compensation Board of B.C.) investigation stalled in November as its inspection officer retired, with no one in the area available to take over immediately. The investigation has since been picked up by investigator Paul Orr, who was on the Coast on Monday and Tuesday (Jan. 7 and 8) speaking to various parties and touring the site. Donna Freeman, a spokesperson for WorkSafe B.C., said they've been co-operating with the District's investigation by "providing technical support" such as information about WorkSafe B.C.'s blasting requirements. She indicated their investigation will take three to six months, depending on its scope, which could focus on just a few days of blasting or could look at the past 14 months of work.
WorkSafe investigators have spoken with representatives from TBE and Hemstreet Contracting, with residents living adjacent to the TBE property and with Chatelech Secondary School, which hasn't indicated it will seek a post-blast inspection to assess potential blasting damage.
"[The blasting] hasn't been a problem for the school at all. They've been pretty good with letting us know when they're about to blast," said Chatelech principal Robert Rodgers. "No debris has landed in the parking lot - it's more noise than anything."
WorkSafe B.C.'s inquiry is dealing only with safety infractions posing risks to workers at the site, not safety hazards posed to the public.
