WorkSafeBC fines Vancouver hospitality firm over $624,000 for asbestos and mould exposure

48 after inspectors found workers renovating a hotel in Williams Lake were exposed to asbestos, lead and mould without adequate protection. The case highlights the growing enforcement pressure on construction and renovation firms across multiple jurisdictions this month, as regulators in North America, Asia and Europe crack down on unsafe practices.

Hazardous material failures at Williams Lake hotel

The fine against Northland Properties — an organisation linked to the Gaglardi family — was finalised in late May and detailed in recent reports. WorkSafeBC investigators found the company failed to provide workers with necessary training, respiratory protection or proper containment for hazardous materials during the renovation project.

The regulator described the violations as high-risk and repeated, noting that no adequate risk assessments had been carried out before work began. The case reflects heightened scrutiny of legacy hazardous materials in older buildings. Similar issues recently halted a 10-storey hotel project by Lamont Cos. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where uncertified workers allegedly disturbed asbestos, prompting a stop-work order and the removal of staff by project partners.

The failure to assess and control hazardous substances like asbestos, lead and mould can lead to severe penalties and project shutdowns. Ensuring you have proper COSHH risk assessments in place is not just a legal requirement — it protects your workforce and your business. A free COSHH toolkit provides 43 ready-to-use templates, checklists and toolbox talks to help you stay compliant. Get the free COSHH Toolkit

Calgary court orders £330,000 penalty after trench collapse death

In Calgary, Mr. Mike's Plumbing was ordered to pay $330,000 on July 13 after pleading guilty in connection with the 2023 death of a 27-year-old apprentice. The worker was killed when an un-shored trench collapsed during a residential project.

The court-ordered penalty includes a $115,000 fine and an additional $215,000 to fund a safety awareness campaign at the University of Alberta Injury Prevention Centre. Prosecutors cited inadequate supervision and the failure to secure the trench as primary factors in the incident.

Global enforcement actions intensify

Safety regulators have also taken action on structural integrity and permitting compliance in recent weeks:

• New York City: Structural beams buckled on July 7 during an office-to-residential conversion on East 42nd Street, forcing an emergency evacuation. City records show the owner had previously accumulated more than $32,000 in fines for failing to follow approved blueprints.
• Pune, India: Authorities launched criminal proceedings after a building collapse at a waste-to-energy plant on July 8 killed nine people. Investigators found the three-storey structure only held occupancy permits for its ground floor.
• London: A scaffolding firm and its director were fined more than £30,000 following a 2023 tower collapse on Putney High Street. The Health and Safety Executive found the structure was improperly assembled and failed to account for wind loading.
• Maryland: A 150-foot safety perimeter was established around the Empire Towers in Glen Burnie on July 9 after unpermitted work on a parking garage left the building structurally unstable. Local authorities have begun offering disaster recovery grants to affected parties.

Rising liability risks for contractors

The surge in safety-related penalties coincides with shifts in the insurance market. In Australia, major insurers including QBE and Zurich have moved to exclude asbestos claims from general liability policies, forcing contractors to seek specialist incidental cover. With millions of tonnes of asbestos remaining in existing infrastructure, industry experts say legacy risks are placing contractor liability under renewed scrutiny.

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