Rally for Oakridge construction worker killed on job calls for better safety conditions
Posted March 15, 2024 11:23 am.
Last Updated March 15, 2024 6:29 pm.
A rally was held Friday calling for justice and better safety conditions, nearly a month after a construction worker was killed on the job in Vancouver.
Yuridia Flores was working at a construction site near 41st Ave and Cambie when a crane lost its load, fell more then 20 stories and crushed her.
The protest was put on by Metro Vancouver United Workers, it was held outside Oakridge Station at 41st and Cambie.
Protesters at the rally could be heard chanting, “Yuridia was murdered.”
Dave, who didn’t want to give out his last name, spoke for the group.
“There isn’t much happening as a result of this; the site still runs as normal,” he told CityNews.
“On our own site, we’ve had safety precautions implemented that have essentially just been ‘don’t stand by cranes,’ and it’s just treated like it’s nothing.”
Dave says the group is also calling for the construction companies in charge of the site, WestBank and EllisDon, to be held criminally liable for the incident.
Flores was a Mexican national and Canadian permanent resident.
CityNews had spoken with workers near the site at the time of the Feb. 21 incident.
“Just something broke loose from the crane and fell … roughly about 30 stories onto a person down below,” one worker recalled.
“The table was being pulled out and, for whatever reason, it started spinning and it hit the side of the building. Once it hit the side of the building, the … piece that holds it to the crane came loose and it fell,” another worker explained. “It fell… and it came smashing all the way down.”
Organizers of the rally say Flores was killed by “negligent safety standards from the construction company.”
“Come demand justice for her death and better safety conditions for all construction workers!” the group said.
CityNews has reached out to WestBank and EllisDon for comment.
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