May 19, 2008

Two construction site accidents take their toll

A 41-year-old Burnaby man has died after being run over by a loaded gravel dump-truck near the construction site of the Golden Ears Bridge on May 9, while a 55-year-old plumbing supervisor was killed at a Toronto job site on May 12.

The death of the Burnaby worker occurred in a field located off of 128 Avenue and 209 Street, while the man was working on a new road to connect with the bridge.

“It is not clear in the file what the victim was doing at the time of the incident. This is an area where they are doing a connecting road that will go to the Golden Ears Bridge,” said Dan Herbranson, communications strategist and training co-ordinator with the Ridge Meadows RCMP. “All we know is a loaded gravel truck was reversing and the person was not detected by the driver or the flag person. The victim did not notice the truck backing up.”

A forklift was utilized to assist emergency personnel in getting the man out from underneath the truck. A B.C. Ambulance Air helicopter was brought in, and transported the man to Royal Columbia Hospital, but he died soon after arrival at the hospital.

B.C. Corner’s Service will be assisted by the police in doing a complete investigation.

“If there is anything criminal we will get involved, but it doesn’t appear as though that will be necessary,” he said.

Work Safe B.C. is also involved in looking into this tragic incident.

Meanwhile, what caused a piece of metal to fall 20 storeys and kill a construction worker this week at a downtown Toronto worksite has yet to be determined, reports the Ontario Ministry of Labour.

A 55-year-old construction worker was on the third floor of one of the two towers at the Bay and Grosvenor streets project site when the accident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday, May, 12.

He worked for University Plumbing and was the plumbing supervisor at the 825 Bay Street site, said Bruce Skeaff, spokesperson at the labour ministry.

“A piece of metal pipe, approximately 12 inches long, fell 20 storeys and struck him in the head,” he said.

The falling piece sliced through the worker’s hard hat. Emergency personnel arrived on scene and rushed him to St. Michael’s hospital where he later died from his injuries.

The Ministry of Labour is investigating and work on the site has stopped until their investigation is complete.

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