Gas station workers still at risk: WorkSafeBC

B.C. gas station owners are not doing enough to protect their overnight workers from robberies and violence, according to WorkSafeBC.

For three months, the provincial government agency conducted 366 random late-night inspections ofservice stations around the province and found that almost all of them were in violation of government safety guidelines.

WorkSafeBC found the employers are not providing proper training, supervision or procedures to protect the vulnerable workers.

The inspections were a response to thedeath last year of Maple Ridge gas station attendant Grant De Patie, 24, who was dragged to his deathafter trying to stop a gas-and-dash robbery.

His father, Doug De Patie, says it's time for the provincial government to protect young workers with a law requiring everyone to pay before pumping gas at night.

De Patie says too many gas stationscontinue toput their workers' lives at risk.

"They did have wages deducted from them for gas and dashes, and their employers do expect them to run out and try to get the plate number, putting themselves at risk," he told CBC News.

"Or they have cameras that view the cash registers, rather than the people fuelling up and doing the gas and dashes."

WorkSafeBC says followup inspections and education are needed to improve the safety of the attendants. But that's not enough forthe B.C. Federation of Labour's Angela Schira, who says it's timefor stronger measures.

"The board has a legal responsibility that they need to crack down and that gas stations, if they are not complying, should be fined and actually shut down."