“Important infrastructure, including telecommunication cables, electricity wires, natural gas lines, water mains, and sewer lines, is often buried underground,” according to the B.C. government. “By clicking or calling BC 1 Call before beginning any excavation project, British Columbians can ensure safety and prevent possible interruption of services.”
WorkSafeBC also found that Bay Hill Contracting had not completed hand-digging to determine the precise location of the underground utility.
“The firm failed to accurately determine the location of all underground utilities before excavating with powered equipment. This was a repeated and high-risk violation,” said WorkSafeBC.
Why are gas leaks dangerous?
According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), gas or vapour may travel a considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back to the leak or open container
“Gas or vapour may accumulate in hazardous amounts in low-lying areas especially inside confined spaces, resulting in a health hazard,” it said.
Source link