RICHMOND, B.C. - On what would have been the 27th birthday of a young man dragged to death under a car while trying to stop a gas theft in 2005, Grant's Law has been passed by the British Columbia agency in charge of worker safety.
The tough new rules, including mandatory pre-payment for fuel, cap a long campaign by a Surrey, B.C., couple in the memory of their son, Grant De Patie, and his horrific death while working as a gas station attendant.
"I think that he would have been proud,'' Doug De Patie, Grant's father, told The Canadian Press in an interview Thursday.
He called it a fitting tribute because "today is Grant's birthday.''
"He gave his life in a way'' to address the lack of regulations to protect workers, said De Patie. "Grant, I think, can rest in peace knowing he prevented a lot further carnage.''
Under the regulations approved by WorkSafeBC's board of directors, motorists across the province will have to pay in advance to fill up their cars 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The board also approved late-night safety procedures and requirements for all retail outlets open between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., changes that follow public hearings and lobbying by the De Paties and the B.C. Federation of Labour.
Roberta Ellis, WorkSafeBC vice-president of policy, investigations and review, said under the rules that go into effect on Feb. 1, employers must ensure that people working alone are "physically separated from the public with a locked door or some kind of barrier.''
The regulations also require employers to identify hazards in the workplace and develop a written procedure to ensure the worker's safety in handling money.
Penalties for non-compliance provide for fines of up to $500,000 for a first offence, said Ellis, although "the amount of the penalty is linked to the size of the payroll.''
De Patie figures violations will be minimal. "It's so black and white. It's pay before you pump. Grant's Law will eliminate gas and dashes.''
He is also pleased WorkSafeBC addressed other workplaces with the same hazards.
"If we put our finger in the dike in the gas station, water's coming out at another spot, so those people that were doing robberies in gas stations, they will just go elsewhere,'' said De Patie, who promises to continue the safety campaign until Grant's Law is adopted across Canada.
His son was working alone on the overnight shift in Maple Ridge, B.C., in March 2005 when a customer attempted to drive off without paying for $12.30 worth of gas.
Grant stepped in front of the car but the 16-year-old driver ran him over and dragged him underneath the vehicle for several kilometres through the streets of Maple Ridge.
Darnell Pratt pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced as an adult to nine years in prison, a sentence later reduced to seven years on appeal.
The De Patie family has been courageous and tireless in their efforts to raise awareness, said Ellis. "We have all been moved by their commitment to protecting workers who may be at risk of violence due to their location and hours of work.''
Labour federation president Jim Sinclair called the new rules the best in North America, saying he hopes they set a precedent for other health and safety agencies to follow.
22:46ET 04-10-07
