Kelowna

Starting this week, filling your car with gas will be slightly different.

On February 1, amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations go into effect, meaning pre-payment for fuel will be required.

WorkSafe BC’s vice-president of Policy, Investigations and Review, Roberta Ellis, says the changes follow a period of extensive consultation across BC with employers, workers, police and other interested parties, including two sets of public hearings.

“We heard very strongly from stakeholders during the consultation process that they wanted these regulations to apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the amendments reflect that,” says Ellis.

She says these requirements, sometimes called “Grant’s Law,” resulted from

WorkSafe BC’s investigation into the tragic death of gas station attendant Grant DePatie, a young worker who was killed while trying to prevent a ‘gas and dash’ robbery when working alone at a Maple Ridge gas station.

Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services, Olga Ilich, says the requirements will change how some customers purchase fuel.

“We want to make sure everyone returns home safely after a day’s work. I’m
pleased that we are able to remember Grant DePatie through improved safety measures for thousands of workers throughout British Columbia. The requirements will change how some customers purchase fuel. In larger centres, the option to pre-pay at the pump is generally available,” says Ilich.

She says in smaller centres, customers may need to prepay at the cash register or with an attendant before fuelling.

“While we recognize this change may cause a small inconvenience for some customers, convenience cannot come at the high cost of violence to vulnerable workers.”

Ilich says other amendments to the working alone or in isolation regulations are designed to protect workers in late night retail premises, such as a gas station or a convenience store or other outlet that is open to the public between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“If a worker is alone or in isolation and there is risk of harm from a violent act, the employer must develop and implement written procedures to ensure the worker’s safety in handling money. The worker must also be trained in the written procedure.”

She says the regulation identifies the usual occupational health and safety
controls, including engineering the risk out and examining administrative practices to eliminate or minimize the risk.

Link: Worksafe BC website