British Columbia Federation of Labour

The WCB has introduced new regulations this year aimed at improving safety for late night retail workers working alone.  The regulations include a risk assessment for workers working alone who are at risk of violence, and prepayment of gas. There will also be requirements for employers to ensure the safety of workers by separating workers from customers with a barrier such as a locked door, and to have two people on during the late night hours.

Email the WCB and tell them you support tougher laws to protect late night retail workers.

WCB will be holding public hearings in June 2007 to review these regulations.

If you are interested in presenting or would like more information on how to be heard the hearings please click here.

Since January 2006, the B.C. Federation of Labour has been campaigning for stronger safety regulations for late night retail workers. The lack of safety faced by these workers was highlighted by the deaths of Grant Depatie and Brigette Serre, two late night workers who lost their lives to workplace violence.

Since January, the B.C. Federation of Labour has spoken with over 90 different gas station attendants and has learned from their experience and their stories.

The Federation conducted three separate surveys in 2006, and spoke with workers in communities across the province. Members from various unions and community groups volunteered their time to help. What was discovered is that most people who work late at night do not have the proper systems in place to protect them. Many of these workers had experienced some form of workplace violence while working alone late at night.

The Federation’s campaign, along with the work of Grant DePatie's family resulted in a stepped up enforcement blitz by WCB resulting in 366 inspections across the province where virtually all sites had been found to be in non-compliance.  To learn more read our brief on working alone.

While there are some laws that protect workers who work alone or face the risk of violence, it is clear from our surveys as well as WCB gas station inspections, that not only are the current safety regulations inadequate, but as they stand they are not being followed.

Do you work alone?

Are you working alone.  Learn more about the risks you face and what you can do about it.  Read more.