Construction incident summaries are based on information obtained as soon as possible after the incidents: they are preliminary and subject to change. Details have been edited to protect workers’ privacy.
A new worker was using a telehandler with a spreader bar (40 feet long, weighing 1750 pounds) to lift a bundle of rebar (19 metres long, weighing 4013 kilograms). While the telescoping boom was being extended to place the load in the intended location, the boom suffered a catastrophic failure, causing the load to drop suddenly and strike another worker.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Excavator operation
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2021-May
A worker was operating an excavator under 25-kV power lines when the arm of the excavator caught lower telecommunication lines and the nearby utility pole broke and tipped over. The excavator did not become energized and no injuries were reported.
Injury Type: Possible exposure to a hazardous substance
Core Activity: Earth and rock-filled structure construction
Location: Northern B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-May
A young worker operating an elliptical hopper to load rock trucks at a batch plant experienced dizziness and a headache.
Injury Type: Fractured arm
Core Activity: Rebar work / Consulting engineering, geological, geophysical, or geochemical consulting, or construction management consulting
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2021-Apr
A young worker was using a job-built ladder and work platform constructed to cross over rebar when they fell from the ladder.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Blasting or avalanche control
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-Apr
During urban blasting, fly material left the blast area and landed about 7 metres inside a neighbouring property. No damage or injuries were reported.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation work
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-Mar
Two workers were working on a fourth-floor balcony, sheathing the outside of a pony wall extending the length of the balcony. The workers lifted a piece of plywood over the balcony pony wall and were adjusting the plywood to line up with existing exterior edges when the plywood slipped from their grip and fell 40 feet. As the plywood was falling, the workers yelled to a worker below to get out of the way. The plywood landed near where another worker had been working.
Injury Type: Injury to leg
Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation work
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-Mar
During residential framing activities, a gust of wind destabilized a temporarily braced single-storey section of wood frame wall (51 feet long). The section of wall fell, striking a worker.
Injury Type: Injuries to head (1 worker)
Core Activity: Excavation operation / Irrigation system installation – farm
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-Jan
Two workers were working together to pressurize a section of 2-inch irrigation line when the pipe burst. At the valve location, a piece of pipe struck one of the workers.
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