WorkSafeBC gets involved after forklift takes out support pillar at Kelowna fruit storage facility

Photo: Contributed

Photos from inside 3335 Sexsmith Road showing a support beam damaged by a forklift.

Novem Pharmaceuticals, the company that recently purchased the former BC Tree Fruits storage facility on Kelowna's Sexsmith Road, was hit by a stop work order earlier this month.

WorkSafeBC issued the order after a worker collided with a wooden support pillar in a room at the facility on Oct. 11 at 11 a.m.

The employer, Novem Pharmaceuticals, proceeded to remove the post and place it outside the storage facility.

The lack of the support beam sparked concerns about the safety of the structure and the possibility of a potential ammonia leak, so the incident was reported to WorkSafeBC.

The initial WorkSafeBC report noted that "the employer is unable to lock out the affected room from the ammonia refrigeration system."

"No plan was implemented to ensure the safety of the workers or if a catastrophic event were to occur (structural failure of the roof) causing a major ammonia leak."

WorkSafeBC ordered Novem Pharmaceuticals to provide a detailed plan to ensure the safety of its workers, "while making the repairs to the structure with considerations to the ammonia system."

On Oct. 19, a follow-up inspection lifted the stop work order and stated the employer had developed the required safety plan "while making repairs to the structure with considerations to the ammonia system."

Castanet has reached out to Novem Pharmaceuticals for comment but has not received a response.