WorkSafeBC has fined the provincial government $783,068.26 over traffic enforcement violations during the 2024 Shambhala Music Festival, south of Salmo.
The fine, which was imposed on January 21, stems from an incident involving staff from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure who were conducting traffic enforcement at the festival from July 26 to 29 last year.
The annual electronic music festival attracts over 20,000 attendees each year.
A summary of the WorkSafeBC investigation found online states that a traffic control firm had traffic control persons (TCPs) directing traffic for the festival.
According to the summary, Ministry employees arrived on-site and observed traffic stopped on the highway, prompting them to take over traffic control duties.
WorkSafeBC determined that the Ministry workers were not trained TCPs and had been directing traffic from an unsafe position on the highway.
The Ministry is accused of failing to provide specific direction to its workers on how and under what circumstances they should perform traffic control and of failing to ensure its employees did not direct traffic contrary to a control device or from a position exposed to the flow of traffic.
WorkSafeBC also says the Ministry failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety, which it considers high-risk violations.
The Ministry says it is reviewing the penalty associated with this incident and may request further review.
“Safety is the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s number one priority, and this includes the safety of provincial highways and the Ministry’s employees,” said the Ministry in an email to Vista Radio.
“In this particular situation, Ministry staff intervened with traffic management to ensure the safe flow of traffic on Highway 6 during the Shambhala Music Festival, responding to an emergency situation that quickly arose when a designated traffic control person from a private company failed to perform their duties.”
The Ministry acknowledges that the staff members involved did not have the appropriate training, personal protective equipment (PPE), or equipment for traffic control.
However, it says their actions were driven by the need to address an imminent safety risk to the travelling public and to ensure highway access for emergency vehicles and first responders.
“Ministry staff were able to successfully clear the traffic without incident to themselves or the travelling public.”
Ministry officials say they are committed to using this situation as an “opportunity to reinforce expectations of staff, improve and communicate safety practices and procedures, provide further training, and ensure all emergency protocols are followed to protect public and staff safety.”
They add that a detailed action plan is underway to ensure accountability and provide lessons for better handling of similar situations in the future.
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