June 15, 2018 Construction work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC

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

Injury Type: Burns
Core Activity: Commercial refrigeration or commercial air conditioning work
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-Jun	ID Number: 2018162930009
A worker was using an acetylene torch to un-solder a copper fitting while removing a heat exchanger from an air chiller. When the copper pipe disconnected from the heat exchanger, a flash fire occurred.

Injury Type: Fatal
Core Activity: Pre-engineered steel building construction / General trucking
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2018-Jun	ID Number: 2018161290012
A load of newly painted, sloped steel I-beams (27 feet by 1 to 3 feet, narrow triangular shaped) were being moved from a laydown area to an active commercial construction worksite within a municipal yard property. Five beams, each weighing 2,500 to 4,500 pounds, had already been loaded, standing upright, onto a flatdeck trailer truck. The driver, who was working alone, was securing the load when the load of beams shifted toward the driver’s side. One beam fell from the deck, striking the driver.

Injury Type: Injury to hand
Core Activity: Painting or wallpapering
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-May	ID Number: 2018147230004
A worker was painting a boat docked at a marina. The worker tripped and fell while carrying a glass juice bottle. The bottle shattered against the deck of the boat and the worker’s hand was injured.

Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Crane operation
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2018-May	ID Number: 2018173510005
While the operator of a 60-tonne mobile crane was determining if the boom length was long enough to pick up some structural steel, the crane overturned. No injuries occurred and the crane was removed from service.

Injury Type: Shoulder injury
Core Activity: Painting or wallpapering
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-May	ID Number: 2018117080002
A worker on an unguarded scaffold work platform fell 13 feet to grade.

Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Industrial, commercial, institutional, or highrise residential contracting or construction
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-May	ID Number: 2018174000080
The operator of a self-erecting crane was moving the load line when the rigging chains on the hook contacted a three-phase, energized 12.5 kV overhead power line. No injuries were reported.

Injury Type: Lower body fracture
Core Activity: Steep slope roofing
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-May	ID Number: 2018165370021
While re-roofing a house, a worker fell about 20 feet from a 6:12 sloped roof to the lawn below.

Injury Type: Injury to back and ankle
Core Activity: Siding, awning, or gutter installation, service, or repair
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-May	ID Number: 2018182500004
While working from a stepladder on a raised-level patio, a worker fell 10 to 13 feet into the basement stairwell below.

Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Water well, foundational, or directional drilling
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-May	ID Number: 2018178050007
A rubber-tired backhoe was excavating to install fibre optic cables when it contacted a buried 1.5-inch gas service line, causing the evacuation of local businesses and residences. The utility owner attended the site and repaired the line.

Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Excavation, or private landfill or transfer station operation
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-May	ID Number: 2018157560009
An excavator overturned while loading a dump truck from a spoil pile. The excavator’s boom landed on the trailer of the dump truck.

Injury Type: Fractured arm and leg
Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation work
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-May	ID Number: 2018161950004
A worker was standing on a three-step sawhorse, which was positioned on a temporary work platform inside an elevator shaft. The work platform collapsed and the worker fell 9 feet 11 inches to the floor.

Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Crane operation
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2018-May	ID Number: 2018115130001
A tower crane was moving long pieces of wood building product when the products fell into the fifth floor of a structure. The impact of the load broke a floor joist and plywood decking.

Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Industrial, commercial, institutional, or highrise residential contracting or construction
Location: Interior B.C.
Date of Incident: 2018-Apr	ID Number: 2018158880005
At an airport renovation project, a worker inadvertently cut into a steel natural gas line with a reciprocating saw. The airport was evacuated. No injuries occurred.