Brendan Stokes (Image Credit: Facebook)

By James Peters

Workplace Fatality

Worksafe BC fines Kamloops employer after teenage worker’s 2018 death

Jun 17, 2020 | 2:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — The employer of a Kamloops teenager who died on the job two years ago has been fined by Worksafe BC.

Nineteen-year-old Brendan Stokes died June 29, 2018 while working on a service call in the 10200-block of Dallas Drive. Stokes was an employee of Kamloops Tirecraft.

According to Worksafe BC, Stokes was “cleaning the wheel hub on a loader suspended by a hydraulic jack.” Somehow, the loader slipped off of the jack and onto Stokes, killing him.

Worksafe BC fined Kamloops Tirecraft a total of $8,403.52.

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In particular, investigators singled out the following problems:

• The firm failed to service the loader in accordance with the loader manufacturer’s instructions or as specified by a professional engineer.
• The firm failed to ensure the jack was used according to the jack manufacturer’s instructions, and failed to establish safe work procedures for servicing mobile equipment tires, including procedures for removing tire assemblies.
• The firm failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety.

Worksafe BC said all three are considered “high-risk” violations.

Additionally, investigators noted the company “failed to adequately orient and train its new and young workers and failed to keep orientation and training records.” Worksafe BC said those were repeated violations.