'Several critical safety failures' behind B.C. worker's death, WorkSafeBC says

WorkSafeBC says a worker killed in Vancouver last year when a mould used for concrete fell 26 storeys should never have been able to stand where she was.

The report released by the province's worker safety agency says "several critical safety failures" were to blame for the death of Yuridia Flores at the Oakridge Park development site in February 2024. 

The accident resulted in about 1,700 workers being evacuated from the five-million-square-foot project that is a partnership between developers Westbank and QuadReal Property Group. It was among a series of crane accidents in Vancouver last year.

The report says CCTV footage revealed "no effective controls in place" and safety protocols not followed, with workers often under suspended loads and entering areas that should have been off-limit "ground control zones." 

WorkSafeBC says there was a lack of clarity about which contractor was responsible for the control zones and that ambiguity "contributed significantly," as no single employer took responsibility.

"The ground control zone is a designated area typically identified with barriers and/or red danger tape that workers and other persons should not enter," the report says.

It says Flores was standing in what should have been a ground control zone — providing traffic control and spotting — when she was struck by the mould, which was 9.6 metres long and six metres wide.

The primary contractor, EllisDon, said in a statement that it will "forever be deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Yuridia Flores." 

"We are firmly committed to providing a safety culture that prevents significant incidents from occurring in the future," it said. The company said it was reviewing the WorkSafeBC report, but had "not yet had the opportunity to present our position on these matters to WorkSafeBC."

The report says Flores "had not received any training or instruction pertaining to ground control, traffic control or spotting."

WATCH | Systemic failures alleged at Oakridge construction site: 

WorkSafeBC alleges systemic safety failure at Oakridge construction site

4 months ago

Duration 2:09

WorkSafeBC is accusing the prime contractor of a “systemic failure” to manage safety at the Oakridge construction site. The regulator recently executed a search warrant as it investigates multiple incidents, including a crane dropping its load and scaffolding coming loose. As Jon Hernandez reports, the warrant alleges dozens of safety violations, including one that led to a death earlier this year.

A lawyer for Newway Concrete Forming, the contractor that employed Flores, said in a statement that it has already implemented changes to how it carries out inspections and operates control zones.

"Newway is reviewing the content of the investigation report to determine if there are other areas to address. Newway is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all workers on the sites where it works," the statement said.

'Suddenly accelerated'

The report says on the day of the death, several workers were pushing the mould as it was rigged to a crane when it "suddenly accelerated out of the side of the building", falling on Flores. 

WorkSafeBC says pins that were part of the system that connected the mould to the crane gave way and a brake line was ineffective. It says the front part of the rigging used hooks with safety latches while the back portion featured a "hybrid connector assembly that was not approved by the manufacturer or a professional engineer." 

The report says EllisDon, as the prime contractor, did not ensure that the hazards were identified or that the safety measures for critical lifts and overhead work were co-ordinated, exposing workers to serious risks. 

"EllisDon failed to ensure that there was adequate planning, co-ordination, hazard identification, risk assessment, training, and supervision for the critical lift and overhead work on the day of the incident," the report says.

It says the company also failed to review policies and procedures, including those for spotters and ground control zones during the hoisting and repositioning of the mould, also called a flytable, "leading to the development of unsafe conditions."

"The inadequate fulfilment of prime contractor responsibilities was a key contributing factor in the incident," the report says.

In an email to CBC News, a WorkSafeBC spokesperson said it is using the findings of the report to determine "appropriate enforcement action."

Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside said in a statement that the ministry and WorkSafeBC are committed to working with the International Union of Operating Engineers and B.C. Building Trades, unions which represent construction workers, to address gaps in crane safety.

"My heart goes out to the family, friends, and colleagues of Yuridia Flores, who tragically died while doing her job," she said.