February Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC

These summaries of selected work-related incidents recently reported to WorkSafeBC may help you to prevent similar incidents.

See additional summaries online.

Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Road construction
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-Mar	ID Number: 2018180940006
While conducting road work, a loader/backhoe made contact with an underground 14 kV primary conduit.

Injury Type: Lacerated arm
Core Activity: Construction labour supply or general labour supply
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-Mar	ID Number: 2018173920006
A temporary worker was using a stick to remove an item from the drive spool of a waste conveyor. The stick and then the worker’s arm were pulled into the spool.

Injury Type: Fatal
Core Activity: Oil or gas pipeline construction or repair
Location: Northern B.C.
Date of Incident: 2018-Mar	ID Number: 2018165800001
A worker was fatally injured when the pickup truck he was driving collided head-on with a tractor-trailer unit on a highway.

Injury Type: Fractured leg
Core Activity: Earth and rock filled structure construction
Location: Northern B.C.
Date of Incident: 2018-Mar	ID Number: 2018178760005
A worker slipped and fell on compacted snow in a parking lot.

Injury Type: Laceration to face
Core Activity: Power pole, powerline, or transmission line installation, service, or repair
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-Mar	ID Number: 2018145130001
Workers were replacing a power pole. Once the old pole was removed, an old barrel (used to shore the excavation when the old pole was originally installed) was exposed in the excavation. To accommodate the new, larger pole, the barrel was cut with a grinder, and then a mobile crane attached a line to the barrel using one side of a lifting tong hook. A worker standing near the side of the excavation was struck when the hook slipped off the barrel.

Injury Type: Undetermined injuries (non-worker)
Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation work
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-Mar	ID Number: 2018117080001
A non-worker was reversing a vehicle in a parking lot next to a 25-foot deep excavation. The driver backed into two parked cars and then accelerated forward. The vehicle went through a modular fence surrounding the excavation and fell 25 feet onto a concrete slab. No workers were in the excavation at the time of the incident.

Injury Type: Injury to head
Core Activity: Excavation operation
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-Mar	ID Number: 2018165370008
A worker walking on top of a lock-block wall slipped off, falling about 10 feet.

Injury Type: Lacerated leg
Core Activity: Framing or residential forming
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-Feb	ID Number: 2018180940004
A young worker was using a circular saw when the saw kicked back and contacted the worker’s leg.

Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Excavator operation
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-Feb	ID Number: 2018178050002
An excavator was digging for a residential sewer connection when it contacted a buried high-voltage line (14.4 kV). This disconnected the insert bushing at the hydro vault and disrupted power service to local residences.

Injury Type: Suspected fractured ankle (1 worker); Suspected sprained ankle (1 worker)
Core Activity: Window or glass installation, replacement, or repair
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-Feb	ID Number: 2018175290004
Two workers were unpacking a crate containing three glass panels (each about 10 by 7 feet, 600 pounds). The panels became unstable and fell toward the two workers, striking them both.

Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Snow or ice removal
Location: Interior B.C.
Date of Incident: 2018-Feb	ID Number: 2018180890004
During the removal of snow from a parking lot, a skid-steer contacted a natural gas line. The utility owner disconnected the gas service to make the necessary repairs. No injuries were reported.

Injury Type: Concussion
Core Activity: Structural concrete forming
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-Feb	ID Number: 2018181740004
While operating a telehandler with its boom in the air, a worker drove onto the soft-shouldered slope of a gravel road. The telehandler became unstable and rolled onto its side.

Injury Type: Undetermined injuries
Core Activity: Plumbing, heating, vent, residential air conditioning, or central vacuum system installation or repair
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-Feb	ID Number: 2018166920003
A worker installing an overhead cast iron sprinkler pipe (4 inches in diameter) was struck and injured after the insert holding the pipe failed.