A refinery has been fined more than $182,000 by WorkSafeBC after an incident that saw an employee’s clothing sprayed with hot oil. On Wednesday, April 8, WorkSafeBC put out a media release regarding the incident and a corresponding penalty of $182,282.38 levied against the refinery on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. A summary posted on the agency’s website stated that a blockage in a heavy fuel oil line was being cleared when an uncontrolled flow sprayed hot oil onto a worker’s clothes. “WorkSafeBC’s investigation determined the firm’s safe work procedures for the method used to clear the blockage had not been followed. No hazard assessment had been completed, no hot work permit had been issued, no standby person with emergency equipment had been in place, and workers had not worn the required personal protective equipment. The firm failed to ensure hazards were effectively controlled before allowing work to be done on machinery shut down for maintenance.” The incident was assessed by WorkSafeBC as high-risk, which can allow the agency to assess a larger financial penalty.