WorkSafeBC Home

Welder fatally injured when pinned between decking and railing of metal walkway

Date of incident: June 2022
Notice of incident number: 2022181730007
Employer: Welding company

Incident summary
A welder cut out a piece of metal decking from a metal walkway and then raised the piece of metal decking using a crane truck. The piece of decking became jammed between the walkway railings, and the welder moved under the decking. The suspended decking shifted and pinned the welder between the decking and the railing of the walkway. The welder sustained fatal injuries.

 

Investigation conclusions

Cause

  • Welder was pinned between metal walkway and metal decking. The incident was not witnessed, but on the day of the incident, the welder was both welding and operating the crane truck. With the crane truck running, the welder left the crane controls and went under the suspended load. While under the decking, the load shifted and pinned the welder between the decking and the railing on the metal walkway.

Contributing factors

  • Failure to recognize an unsafe situation. Going under a suspended load is prohibited by the crane manufacturer’s operator’s manual and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. Leaving a load suspended without an operator at the crane controls is also prohibited by the Regulation. The lack of adequate hazard identification and risk assessment reduced the ability of the welder to carry out the job safely.
  • Incorrect set-up of crane truck outriggers. No cribbing or support plates were placed under the crane truck’s outriggers (stabilizer legs). It had recently rained, and the crane truck was set up on a grass field with an inadequate supporting surface. The crane truck therefore listed to one side and one outrigger lifted off the ground. This could have contributed to the load shifting while the welder was under the raised decking.

Other health and safety issues

  • Welder not certified for crane type. The welder’s crane certificate was only valid while the welder worked for a previous employer at a specific work location and contained several restrictions. Although the crane truck was included in the classification on the certificate, as the welder no longer worked for his previous employer, he was not properly certified to operate the crane truck at the time of the incident.

Request the full report

Publication Date: Feb 2025 Asset type: Incident Investigation Report Summary NI number: 2022181730007