Published on: March 05, 2024

WorkSafeBC continues to work with industry and workers to advance new safety initiatives and regulatory measures to improve crane safety in B.C.

WorkSafeBC will be bringing crane employers, labour, and the BC Association for Crane Safety (BC Crane Safety) together following four crane-related incidents in Metro Vancouver since the beginning of 2024.

Tragically, one of those incidents at the Oakridge Park construction site in Vancouver resulted in a worker fatality.

“Our thoughts and our deepest condolences go out to the family, co-workers and friends affected by the tragic death of Yuridia Flores,” said Todd McDonald, Head of Prevention Services at WorkSafeBC. “Incidents involving cranes can be catastrophic, and we are very concerned with the number of incidents that have occurred in such a short period of time.”

Investigations

WorkSafeBC is actively working to understand the cause of the four crane-related incidents, and any contributing factors, so that similar incidents can be prevented from happening in the future. Preliminary evidence, at this time, suggests there are few, if any, similarities between the incidents or the equipment involved.

While WorkSafeBC cannot discuss specific details of the incidents, any findings that would improve workplace safety will be immediately incorporated into WorkSafeBC’s inspections, educational materials, and crane safety initiatives.

“Multiple incidents involving cranes demonstrate that workplace safety can never be taken for granted,” said McDonald. “And while each of the recent incidents appears to be unique, employers are reminded of the need to be vigilant in ensuring the maintenance of their equipment and the safe working procedures of their staff.”

WorkSafeBC’s Crane Initiative

While cranes in B.C. typically operate safely and without incident, they have the potential to create catastrophic risk for workers.

WorkSafeBC has a crane safety initiative that aims to identify and eliminate unsafe work practices and equipment hazards. As part of this initiative, WorkSafeBC has a Provincial Crane Inspection Team with extensive experience and training in crane use. This team conducts proactive risk-based inspections across B.C. to ensure employers are effectively managing the key risks across all stages of crane use.

In 2019, following a crane collapse in Seattle, WorkSafeBC refreshed its crane-initiative strategy based on the risks related to tower cranes. The primary risks identified were:

1. Risks during assembly/disassembly.
2. Operator qualification/competency.
3. Certification and inspection of equipment.
4. Risk of crane-to-crane or crane-to-voltage contacts.

Regulatory changes have been made — and are underway — along with industry tools and resources, and inspectional initiatives related to these four risk areas. More information on this work is available online at: Tower Crane Safety.

“We are constantly assessing areas of risk in the workplace and the measures in place to prevent workplace injuries,” said McDonald. “We monitor for industry trends and serious crane incidents around the world, and we are working with industry and workers to ensure B.C. has the right controls in place to keep workers safe.”

Stakeholder outreach

WorkSafeBC is committed to working with employers and workers to advance new safety initiatives and regulatory measures to improve crane safety in B.C.

WorkSafeBC works closely with BC Crane Safety to create resources for the industry to ensure they understand hazards related to tower crane erection, operation, inspection and maintenance, and how to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

On March 5, WorkSafeBC and BC Crane Safety are meeting with crane employers and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 to discuss a proposed regulation that will require employers to submit a Notice of Project for tower crane erection, climbing, repositioning, and dismantling.

In the next few weeks, WorkSafeBC will be convening a meeting with industry and labour to communicate its current and planned initiatives on crane safety, and to gather additional perspectives on work that can be done to improve crane safety in B.C., along with its prioritization.

Key facts

• WorkSafeBC’s Crane Inspection Team conducted 968 inspections in 2023 as part of its planned provincial inspectional initiative.
• There are approximately 350 tower cranes currently operating in B.C.
• Crane operators are required to be certified in B.C. There are approximately 650 credentialled tower crane operators, and over 500 self-erect tower crane operators registered in the province.
• Over the latest five-year period (2019-2023), there have been 22 incidents involving tower cranes in B.C., including a catastrophic failure in Kelowna in 2021 that claimed the lives of five workers.

About WorkSafeBC

WorkSafeBC engages workers and employers to prevent injury, disease, and disability in B.C. When work-related injuries or diseases occur, WorkSafeBC provides compensation and support to people in their recovery, rehabilitation, and safe return to work. We serve 2.6 million workers and 270,000 employers across B.C.

For more information, contact:

Media Relations, WorkSafeBC
Email: media@worksafebc.com
Tel: 604.276.5157