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.
Core Activity: Traffic control / Construction labour supply
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2020-Sep
A traffic control person (TCP) asked a cyclist to dismount from their bicycle at a road construction worksite. The cyclist dismounted and subsequently assaulted the TCP with a weapon. The worker was immediately treated on site, then transported to hospital.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Pre-engineered steel building construction
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2020-Aug
A structural steel beam about 31 feet long (weighing about 3,400 pounds) had recently been erected in a new building. The beam had been temporarily welded (using tack welds) to an existing structure. About 2 weeks later, it snapped its welds and then the connecting bolts on the attachment point of the opposite column. The beam fell and came to rest on a pony wall directly below. No workers were on site at the time of this incident.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Painting or wallpapering
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2020-Aug
A worker was using an 85-foot boom lift for exterior painting activities. While in an elevated position, the worker repositioned the lift, and the boom contacted a 60-kV energized power line, resulting in arcing and sparks. Emergency services and the utility owner responded. The high-voltage lines were isolated and grounded before the worker was rescued from the lift. No injuries were reported.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Excavator operation
Location: Interior B.C.
Date of Incident: 2020-Aug
As an excavator was hoe-packing back-filling material, it struck a marked underground 25-kV electrical line. The electrical line was torn from inside the nearby electrical vault.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Blasting or avalanche control
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2020-Aug
A track-mounted crawler drill rig became unstable, fell over, and came to rest on its side. The drill rig was positioned on an elevated rock bluff surface and fell when the drill mast and “beaver tail” were lifted in preparation for the rig to move. The rig became unstable and slid down on the rock face, ending up on its side. The operator was not injured.
Injury Type: Partial amputation of finger
Core Activity: Framing or residential forming
Location: Interior B.C.
Date of Incident: 2020-Aug
A worker was using a handheld circular saw to make a rip cut in an 18-inch-long 2×4. The worker was holding the 2×4 in their hand when the saw kicked back, injuring the worker.
Injury Type: Bruising
Core Activity: Industrial, commercial, institutional, or highrise residential contracting or construction
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2020-Aug
A worker was walking on top of a concrete sewer tank (45 feet deep). One of the fibreglass panels supporting the worker gave way, and the worker fell about 15 feet to clean water below. The worker was rescued from the tank by a team using a self-retracting lanyard (SRL) and ladder. Emergency services attended and assessed the worker.
Injury Type: Undetermined injuries
Core Activity: Painting or wallpapering
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2020-Aug
A young worker had set up an aluminum painter’s plank with one end on a foundation footing and the other end on a 7-foot A-frame ladder. The worker was working from an extension ladder placed on top of the painter’s plank when the ladders became unstable. The worker fell about 20 feet to uneven, rocky terrain.
Injury Type: Undetermined injuries
Core Activity: Steep slope roofing
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2020-Jul
A worker removing old wood shingles from a roof of a two-level house fell about 19 feet to the ground below.
Injury Type: Bruising
Core Activity: Crane operation / Industrial, commercial, institutional, or highrise residential contracting or construction
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2020-Jul
A tower crane operator using a handheld remote was landing two halves of a 12-foot column form on the ground. The columns were landed and being lowered when they swung inward, pinching the crane operator between them.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Excavator operation / Building demolition
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2020-Jul
An excavator contacted a 1 1/4-inch natural gas line, resulting in a release of natural gas into the atmosphere. Several neighbouring properties were evacuated and overhead high-voltage power lines were de-energized by the utility company that owned them. The utility owner of the gas line attended the site and repaired the damaged gas line.
Injury Type: Exposure to hazardous material
Core Activity: Excavation, or private landfill or transfer station operation
Location: Interior B.C.
Date of Incident: 2020-Jul
A worker was crushing a load of commercial waste that had been brought to a landfill. Liquid inside a pail in the load reacted with the air, releasing what was believed to be chlorine gas. The worker, who was exposed to the gas, was transported to hospital by ambulance.
Injury Type: Injuries to legs
Core Activity: Paving services or asphalt manufacture
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2020-Jul
A worker was operating an asphalt grader, backing it onto a flatdeck trailer that had a mini-excavator parked at the front of the trailer. The guardrail system on the grader contacted the lowered arm of the excavator, pinching the worker. The worker was able to drive the grader forward, releasing the pinching point. Neighbourhood residents provided first aid to the injured worker and called 911.
Injury Type: Exposure to petrochemicals (1 worker)
Core Activity: Excavator operation
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2020-Jul
An excavator was being used to prepare a site for the construction of a new commercial-residential concrete highrise. The site had historically been home to two fuelling facilities and the soil was known to be contaminated with petrochemicals. After a full day of work, the excavator operator began to experience symptoms including light-headedness, dizziness, and nausea. A co-worker transported the worker to hospital.
Injury Type: Bruising
Core Activity: House or other wood general contracting, construction, or renovation work
Location: Northern B.C.
Date of Incident: 2020-Jul
A worker using a jobsite table saw was struck by a piece of plywood (about 1 by 1 foot by 1/2 inch) that kicked back. While driving to hospital, the worker (lone worker) lost consciousness and the car left the road. Emergency services responded and transported the worker to hospital.
Injury Type: Lacerated leg
Core Activity: Siding, awning, or gutter installation, service, or repair
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2020-Jul
A worker was in the bucket of a lift, using a circular saw to cut vinyl siding. The worker held the siding in the air and was cutting when the saw kicked back and struck the worker. The worker received first aid from the on-site first aid attendant before being transported to hospital.
Injury Type: Fractured leg, lacerations
Core Activity: Air conditioning installation or repair / Auto service or repair
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2020-Jul
A worker was standing on a stepladder re-installing a panel on an air conditioning unit when stored electrical energy in a capacitor gave the worker an electric shock. The worker fell 6-7 feet and landed on the concrete floor.
Injury Type: Crush injury (1 worker)
Core Activity: Building demolition
Location: Northern B.C.
Date of Incident: 2020-Jun
A worker was conducting repair work on an excavator. The worker was between the service vehicle and the excavator attachment (concrete crusher) being repaired. A co-worker entered the excavator cab and their jacket caught one of the control sticks, causing the attachment to swing forward, pinning the first worker between the service truck and the attachment.
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