The Britsh Columbia WCB recently had dealt with issue of prime contractor status of the City of Surrey on a road excavation project. The matter concerned an excavation collapse fatality. The case is discussed in Canadian Occupational Health and Safety News (December 11, 2006 Vol. 29, No. 48). The City had failed to take measures to assign prime contractor status according to legislative requirements and was penalized on that basis. I was asked to provide commentary on the matter for the purpose of the article and appreciate very much being asked to do so.