WorkSafeBC reveals skyrocketing number of crane incident investigations
Posted October 31, 2024 6:45 pm.
More serious tower crane incidents are being investigated by WorkSafeBC this year than in the last three years combined.
Data obtained by CityNews shows the number of investigations has jumped from a mere two between 2020 and 2023 to eight in 2024.
Incidents that prompted the eight investigations “resulted in death, serious injury, or had the potential to cause serious injury,” according to WorkSafeBC.
In a statement, the workers’ compensation board says it’s “actively working to understand the cause of these crane-related incidents, and any contributing factors, so that similar incidents can be prevented from happening in the future.”
Although tower cranes have drawn significant attention due to several high-profile incidents, WorkSafeBC stresses that many different types of cranes and mobile equipment are utilized across various industries in British Columbia.
On Tuesday, a construction crane in East Vancouver dropped its load, causing damage to the street. The incident is under investigation by WorkSafeBC but is not included in the eight serious investigations this year, as no injuries were reported.
The Lower Mainland is recognized as one of the busiest regions for crane operations in Canada.
Earlier this month, new province-wide crane safety regulations were introduced in response to a tragic crane collapse in Kelowna in 2021 that claimed five lives. However, there are growing concerns about whether these new rules are sufficient.
The legislation focuses on the assembly and disassembly of cranes, which some believe contributed to the Kelowna tragedy. The RCMP has recommended a charge of criminal negligence in connection with the fatal incident that remains under investigation.
