Incident summaries are based on information obtained as soon as possible after the Construction related incidents: they are preliminary and subject to change. Details have been edited to protect workers’ privacy.
Core Activity: Industrial, commercial, institutional, or highrise residential contracting or construction
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-May
A worker was unloading windows from an engineered rack system that held four windows, each weighing more than 400 pounds. The windows fell and pinned the worker beneath.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Excavator operation
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-May
An excavator was doing ground preparation work when it contacted a 2-inch natural gas line. One building on site was evacuated while the utility owner repaired the gas line. No injuries were reported.
Injury Type: Multiple fractures (1 worker)
Core Activity: Scaffolding, tent, staging, or display booth rental and installation / Pulp and paper mill
Location: B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-May
A worker standing on the ground and passing scaffold components up to another worker was struck and pinned by a piece of sheet metal (about 5 by 4 feet) that fell from a height of 20 feet.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Excavator operation / Road construction
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-May
While excavating for an expanded sidewalk, an excavator struck and ruptured a natural gas line (1.25 inches in diameter). The line released gas into the atmosphere for about 3 hours. The construction site and an adjacent office were evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Pile driving or dredging / Industrial, commercial, institutional, or highrise residential contracting or construction
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2021-Apr
A lattice-boom crawler crane was lifting an I-beam support out of a cofferdam when an arc occurred between adjacent overhead high-voltage power lines (25 kV) and the load line of the crane. The operator repositioned the crane away from the power lines and lowered the load to grade. The crane was immediately taken out of service.
Injury Type: Multiple fractures
Core Activity: Structural concrete forming / Industrial, commercial, institutional or highrise residential contracting or construction
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2021-Apr
A worker was removing a work platform from a section of manufactured scaffolding. While lowering the work platform to the ground, the worker fell about 8.5 feet to grade.
Injury Type: Abrasions
Core Activity: Traffic control
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2021-Apr
A worker conducting traffic control on a municipal roadway was struck by a motor vehicle driven by a member of the public.
Injury Type: Amputated fingertip
Core Activity: Industrial, commercial, institutional, or highrise residential contracting or construction
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-Apr
A worker was setting up bracing for formwork. As the worker was detaching the brace, one of their fingers was pinched between the brace and the formwork.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Excavation operation
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2021-Apr
As a vacuum truck was backing onto a worksite from the street, its rear passenger side struck and damaged a utility pole supporting energized high-voltage power lines.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Excavator operation / Industrial, commercial, institutional or highrise residential contracting or construction
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-Apr
An excavator bucket contacted and ruptured a recently installed and buried 26 millimetre natural gas line. No injuries were reported and the utility owner repaired the damaged section of pipe.
Injury Type: Injuries to upper body, laceration to head
Core Activity: Concrete pumping
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2021-Apr
As a worker was holding the concrete hose of pump truck, while priming the line with concrete, a blockage occurred. When the blockage released, the hose whipped and struck the worker, who fell to the ground.
Injury Type: Fractured leg
Core Activity: Framing or residential forming
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2021-Apr
A worker fell about 5 feet to the ground from temporary wood-frame scaffolding while completing framing activities for a residential detached garage.
Injury Type: Upper body injury
Core Activity: Excavator operation
Location: Interior B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-Apr
An excavator operator was unloading an excavator from a trailer attached to a dump truck when the excavator slid off the trailer and rolled over, coming to a rest on the boom side on the road. The operator was transported to hospital by the employer.
Injury Type: Fractures, laceration, sprain/strain
Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation work
Location: Interior B.C.
Date of Incident: 2021-Mar
A worker performing renovation work at a residence fell through an opening in the floor during the installation of a staircase. The worker fell about 9 feet, landing on a concrete surface below.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Pier, wharf, or dry dock construction or repair
Location: Northern B.C.
Date of Incident: 2020-Oct
A worker was operating a telehandler to move a welding tent. The telehandler’s boom was at 60 degrees when a gust of wind caught the welding tent, causing the telehandler to tip onto its side. The operator was able to escape through the boom-side window.
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