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: Steel frame erection or structural repair of steel frames
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2022-Aug
A worker was performing sand-blasting work inside a large jet fuel tank using a sand blaster pressurized at about 90 to 100 psi. The sand blaster’s nozzle inadvertently contacted the worker’s upper body, ejecting media and injuring the worker.
Injury Type: Contusion
Core Activity: Earth and rock filled structure construction
Location: Northern B.C.
Date of Incident: 2022-Aug
A worker was starting to move a mobile aerial work platform when the throttle stuck. The worker was thrown forward and struck their head on the inside of the work platform.
Injury Type: Back and head pain
Core Activity: Drywalling or acoustic board installation
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2022-Aug
A worker was performing work activities from a ladder when the worker fell about 8 feet to the concrete floor below.
Injury Type: Possible fractures (1 worker)
Core Activity: Steel frame erection or structural repair of steel frames
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2022-Aug
Two workers were organizing steel web trusses (each 18 metres long by 0.8 metres high, weighing 816 kilograms), using a telehandler. One of the workers was picking up cut strapping material. When the other worker cut the last strap, the stored energy caused a truss to spring forward and strike the worker picking up the strapping.
Injury Type: Undetermined injuries
Core Activity: Masonry / Industrial, commercial, institutional, or highrise residential contracting or construction
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2022-Aug
A worker was on the third rung of a 5-foot stepladder, pressure washing the exterior brickwork finish of a newly constructed residential mid-rise. The worker fell from the stepladder, landing on rebar that had 2×4 dowel protection installed.
Injury Type: Bruising
Core Activity: Structural concrete construction or repair
Location: Northern B.C.
Date of Incident: 2022-Aug
A worker was standing on a steel shoring frame, trying to remove a sling used for hoisting the frame. The worker lost their balance and fell about 13 feet to grade, striking their head on steel beams on the way down.
Injury Type: Crush injuries
Core Activity: Road construction / Industrial, commercial, institutional, or highrise residential contracting or construction
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2022-Aug
A rough-terrain hauler struck formwork, pushing it toward a worker. The worker was caught between the formwork and a lock block.
Injury Type: Fatal
Core Activity: Road construction
Location: Northern B.C.
Date of Incident: 2022-Aug
A worker failed to appear at the end of shift. The excavator they had been operating was found overturned down an embankment (40 percent slope), resting partially in a river. The worker had succumbed to their injuries.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Excavator operation / Landscaping, lawn or garden maintenance, or weed control
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2022-Jul
An excavator was moving soil on a residential construction site when the arm of the excavator contacted an overhead power line. No injuries were reported.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Oil or gas pipeline construction or repair
Location: Northern B.C.
Date of Incident: 2022-Jul
Two pipelayers were being used to move a section of pipe on a right-of-way. As the pipelayers were travelling backward downslope, they rolled over.
Injury Type: Injuries to fingers
Core Activity: Pier, wharf, or dry dock construction or repair
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2022-Jul
A worker was trying to manually measure the temperature of the inner cooling water pipe for an air compressor as it was operating. One of the worker’s hands got caught in the radiator fan.
Injury Type: Contusions to foot
Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation work
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2022-Jul
A worker was trying to hook a loaded utility trailer to a work vehicle. The landing gear on the trailer failed and the hitch landed on one of the worker’s feet.
Injury Type: Burns (2 workers)
Core Activity: Highway, road, or parking lot painting
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2022-Jul
Two workers were lighting a propane kettle used for melting thermoplastic paint prior to application (road marking) when there was a sudden combustion of accumulated gas. Both workers (one of them a young worker) sustained burns.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Oil or gas pipeline construction or repair
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2022-Jul
At the start of the work shift, it was discovered that an excavation had been flooded with sewage waste overnight. No workers were in the excavation and no injuries were reported.
Injury Type: Fractured leg (1 worker)
Core Activity: Painting or wallpapering / General trucking
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2022-Jun
A worker was unloading floor tile from a box-style delivery truck. They used a pallet jack to move a pallet of tile onto the powered tailgate and started to lower the tailgate. A swivel hinge connecting the two sections of the ramp of the tailgate failed, and the pallet of tile tipped over, striking a young worker who was helping.
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