Maple Ridge attendant died because safety rules not enforced: report

A report by WorkSafe B.C. into the death of a Maple Ridge gas station employee who died after he tried to prevent a gas theft, is critical of the service station's policy enforcement.

Grant De Patie died while trying to stop a driver stealing $12.30 worth of gas

Twenty-four-year-old Grant De Patie was dragged seven-and-a-half kilometres to his death while trying to stop a driver from stealing $12.30 worth of gas.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with second-degree murder.

• FROM MARCH 9, 2005: Teen charged with murder of gas station attendant

WorkSafe B.C. says De Patie didn't follow company safety regulations that would have required De Patie to be kept inside the Esso station during his overnight shift.

WorkSafe B.C. says the station has a policy that after 11 p.m., customers pay for their gas up front at the service window or pay at the pump using their credit card. But WorkSafe says the policy wasn't properly enforced.

"Not applying the payment policies resulted in De Patie routinely being out of the store, and permitted him to pursue the fleeing car," says the report. "The late night payment policies would have prevented this fatality."

The Maple Ridge Esso station where 24-year-old Grant De Patie worked.

The report suggests station management knew that De Patie often went outside during his graveyard shift.

But gas station owner Barj Dhahan blames De Patie for the events that led to his death in March 2005.

"This employee chose to do something that he shouldn't have been done," said Dhahan, adding that De Patie knew the rules and had even signed a document to that effect.

As for enforcing the rules, the gas station owner says there was no reason to believe they weren't being followed.

"We did all the things that we felt we need to do to ensure a safe working place."

• FROM MARCH 11, 2005: Grieving parents reject hate

WorkSafe has ordered the station to improve its training and supervision of employees.

It's also reviewing a recommendation by investigators that the outlet be fined. A financial penalty could range from a couple thousand dollars up to $500,000.