Quick Links
Customer Centres
Download Adobe Reader for free (required to view PDF files)
YW Accidents
2003 Incidents Involving Young Workers
A Notice of Accident (NOA) is a preliminary report of an accident that WCB Prevention officers respond to. The NOA is based on information obtained as soon as possible after the accident but before an investigation into causes has been completed.This update contains details from selected "Notice of Accidents" received by the Prevention Division of the WCB involving young workers.
This information may help you prevent similar accidents in your workplace.
THE NOA INFORMATION IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Injury Type : Fractured heels
Core Activity : Gutter installations
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0490
Date of Accident : 2003-Nov
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 2 years' experience at this task
A worker slipped while accessing a ladder at the roof eaves. He fell 18 feet to the ground and fractured both his heels.
Injury Type : Fatal
Core Activity : Oil and gas drilling
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 0462
Date of Accident : 2003-Nov
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A worker walked across a drilling floor where the rotary table was turning at 130 rpm. The lanyard on the fall arrest harness he was wearing contacted the rotary table, wrapped around the rotating shaft, and pulled the worker into the shaft.
Injury Type : Electrical burns to arm; electrical flash burns to face
Core Activity : Land clearing, excavation, or site development
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 0484
Date of Accident : 2003-Oct
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A worker was burned when he picked up a 240-volt electrical cable that he thought was dead.
Injury Type : Burns
Core Activity : Asphalt manufacture
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0483
Date of Accident : 2003-Oct
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1.5 years' experience at this task
A worker's face, arm, and chest were burned when diesel fuel ignited during the shutdown/cleanout procedure of a portable asphalt plant.
Injury Type : Third-degree frostbite to both feet
Core Activity : Fish packing and hand picking
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0471
Date of Accident : 2003-Oct
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1 year's experience at this task
A shore worker, exposed to cold temperatures (around -30°C) while unloading frozen fish from the hold of a freezer boat, developed third-degree frostbite to both feet.
Injury Type : Dizziness, headache, redness in both eyes, nausea, difficulty swallowing (3 workers)
Core Activity : Veneer or plywood manufacture
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0468
Date of Accident : 2003-Oct
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A fire occurred in a veneer dryer. After assisting a fire crew, one young worker and two other workers reported dizziness, headache, redness in both eyes, nausea, and difficulty in swallowing.
Injury Type : Fractured knee
Core Activity : Painting
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0442
Date of Accident : 2003-Oct
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 2 years' experience at this task
A painter working from a small rolling scaffold fell through the work platform to the concrete floor 6 feet below.
Injury Type : Compression fractures to several vertabrae
Core Activity : Sport facility
Location : Northwest BC
ID Number : 0440
Date of Accident : 2003-Oct
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
An instructor fell approximately 25 feet from a climbing wall.
Injury Type : Amputation of two fingertips
Core Activity : Die casting
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0412
Date of Accident : 2003-Oct
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1 hour's experience at this task
A worker used a two-hand trip device to activate a power press. The press completed a single stroke. The worker was using one hand to clear trim material from the lower die when the press completed another stroke.
Injury Type : Crushed hand, amputated finger
Core Activity : Heavy equipment installation
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0441
Date of Accident : 2003-Sep
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A young worker was helping to secure the folding jib extension section of a 70-ton mobile crane. As the main jib was being retracted to secure the locking pin for the jib extension, the worker's hand was crushed.
Injury Type : Broken fingers, strains to one arm and leg (same side)
Core Activity : Demolition
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 0437
Date of Accident : 2003-Sep
Young worker (ages 15-24)
1 day's experience
A worker who was stacking plywood sheets fell 10 feet through an unsecured floor opening.
Injury Type : Hydrocarbon and low-level hydrogen sulfide inhalation (1 worker); head injury (1 worker)
Core Activity : Oil or gas transmission (pipeline)
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 0423
Date of Accident : 2003-Sep
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1.5 years' experience at this task
Two workers experienced disconnection of their supplied air respiratory protection system while they were removing sludge from the inside of an 80,000 barrel (12 719 cubic metre) crude oil tank. They attemped to exit the confined space, without either worker activating his emergency egress bottle. One worker was exposed to the vessel atmosphere when he removed his face-piece inside the tank; the young worker banged his head on the entryway.
Injury Type : Hairline fracture of lumbar vertebra and shoulder injury
Core Activity : Welding services or ornamental metal installation
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 0411
Date of Accident : 2003-Sep
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A worker fell through an opening in the steel decking on a tilt-up construction site. He landed on the concrete floor 6.7 metres below.
Injury Type : Multiple injuries to arm and leg
Core Activity : Sawmill
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 0403
Date of Accident : 2003-Sep
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
A worker came into contact with a sprocket drive while clearing a crossed board at a sorter infeed deck.
Injury Type : Crushing injury to both legs; both later had to be amputated below the knee
Core Activity : Wooden truss manufacture
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 0392
Date of Accident : 2003-Sep
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Worker's experience at this task is unknown
A worker was operating a plate press at a truss company. His legs got caught between the horizontal rollers and he was pulled into the machine.
Injury Type : Compound wrist fracture, broken and loose teeth, cut lip, bruising
Core Activity : Wholesale
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0323
Date of Accident : 2003-Aug
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A worker fell approximately 5 feet off a 10-foot ladder while removing a box from storage racking.
Injury Type : Fatal
Core Activity : Forming and framing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0302
Date of Accident : 2003-Jul
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1 year's experience at this task
A worker engaged in stripping and cleaning up formwork fell 19.5 feet down an elevator shaft into just under 3 feet of water.
Injury Type : Open compound fracture of foot
Core Activity : Finger-jointing lumber
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 0300
Date of Accident : 2003-Jul
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1 year's experience at this task
The worker was using one foot to unjam trimblocks in a belt waste conveyor. His foot got caught between an idler roll shaft bearing and the return side of the fingerjoint lug transfer chain that was in motion directly above the waste conveyor.
Injury Type : Bruising to hip
Core Activity : Pipe laying
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0294
Date of Accident : 2003-Jul
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A chain lifting sling broke while being used to position a length of water main 24 inches in diameter. The water main dropped 4 inches and struck a worker's hip.
Injury Type : Fatal (1); unknown injuries (1)
Core Activity : Tree planting
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 0290
Date of Accident : 2003-Jul
Young worker (ages 15-24)
1 month's experience at this task
A silviculture crew cab pick-up transporting four workers to the job site went off the road and rolled over while on a gravelled public road. A young worker was injured and another worker sustained fatal internal injuries.
Injury Type : Internal injuries, including bladder and kidney damage
Core Activity : Fish processing or fish reduction
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 0285
Date of Accident : 2003-Jul
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
A young worker was walking between a fish processing tote dumper and adjacent storage lockers when the dumper was activated, crushing worker against locker structure.
Injury Type : Internal bruising of shoulder/collar bone; scratches
Core Activity : Construction/restoration
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0280
Date of Accident : 2003-Jul
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
A worker fell approximately 32.5 feet from scaffolding, landing on bushes and other vegetation.
Injury Type : Injury to pelvic area
Core Activity : Wooden component manufacture
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0279
Date of Accident : 2003-Jul
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A worker's clothing was caught in an unguarded rotating shaft.
Injury Type : Bruising and scrapes to shoulder and back
Core Activity : Residential wood frame construction
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0274
Date of Accident : 2003-Jul
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
One owner of an unregistered partnership doing framing at a residential construction site was struck by an unbraced wall when it fell.
Injury Type : Fractured skull, suspected head injuries, multiple lacerations
Core Activity : Framing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0267
Date of Accident : 2003-Jul
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Worker's experience at this task is unknown
An apprentice carpenter fell more than 37 feet through a stairwell opening and landed on the concrete floor 4 levels below.
Injury Type : Two crushed vertebrae, ruptured spleen, brain swelling , broken arm, several broken ribs, bruised kidney
Core Activity : Tree limbing and topping
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 0263
Date of Accident : 2003-Jul
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1 year's experience at this task
A worker fell 36 metres from the top of a topped tree.
Injury Type : Fatal
Core Activity : Logging road construction
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 0255
Date of Accident : 2003-Jun
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1 year's experience at this task
A rough terrain articulating dump truck loaded with rock was travelling down a steep grade. The driver was thrown from the vehicle when it crashed into the inside bank/ditch.
Injury Type : Fractured ankle
Core Activity : Non-alcoholic beverage manufacture or water bottling
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0252
Date of Accident : 2003-Jun
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 2 years' experience at this task
A worker's foot was pinched between an electric pallet jack and a loaded pallet.
Injury Type : Lacerations to one hand
Core Activity : Plastic product manufacture
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0233
Date of Accident : 2003-Jun
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
A young worker was loading a roll of material into a thermal molding machine when his hand was pinched between the loading arm and the machine.
Injury Type : Dislocated shoulder (1 worker); lacerated mouth (1 worker)
Core Activity : Land clearing, excavation, or site development
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0220
Date of Accident : 2003-Jun
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
Two workers were injured when a hydraulic oil cap blew off. The cap struck one worker in the shoulder, then bounced up into the young worker's face.
Injury Type : Possible exposure to oxygen-deficient atmosphere and/or airborne substance(s) (2)
Core Activity : Recreational water park
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0249
Date of Accident : 2003-May
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1 month's experience at this task
Two young workers were removing debris from a 7-foot-deep sump (part of a drainage system used to collect rainwater from a parking lot). During the sump cleaning, one worker would enter the sump to fill a bucket with a shovel, and the second worker would stay outside the sump to assist with removal of the bucket. During the second day of removal both workers reported to the first aid attendant complaining of weakness, faintness, vertigo, nausea, and a burning throat.
Injury Type : Fatal
Core Activity : Skydiver shuttle service
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0228
Date of Accident : 2003-May
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1 year's experience at this task
The pilot of a small plane had dropped off some sky divers at approximately 9000 feet and was descending to pick up more passengers when the plane went missing. The wreckage, containing the pilot's body, was found on a mountainside about a week later.
Injury Type : Fractured pelvis, amputated leg
Core Activity : Integrated forest management
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 0213
Date of Accident : 2003-May
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
During steep-slope grapple yarding, the hooktender (a young worker) was struck by a windfall.
Injury Type : Bruised ribs, possible fractures
Core Activity : Framing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0205
Date of Accident : 2003-May
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
A worker was cutting out an opening for a stairwell to a basement on the main level of a house under construction. After making the cut, he noticed a small piece of floor OSB sheathing was not cut through in the corner of the stairwell. While attempting to tap away the uncut portion of sheathing with his foot, the worker lost his balance. He fell through the stairwell opening and landed on the basement dirt floor approximately 9 feet below.
Injury Type : Abrasions to forearms
Core Activity : Steel frame erection
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0193
Date of Accident : 2003-May
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1.5 years' experience at this task
A young worker was working on an electric-powered elevating scissor lift, which was elevated to 25 feet and supported on a concrete slab. Two of the lift's wheels dropped into an opening in the concrete slab and the lift fell over.
Injury Type : Amputation and crushing of fingers on one hand
Core Activity : Commercial bakery
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0187
Date of Accident : 2003-May
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A production worker in a commercial bakery accessed the chain and sprocket drive for the infeed conveyor of an oven. The worker's little finger and most of the ring finger on one hand were amputated. The middle and index finger were crushed. This accident is similar to one shown in the WCB "Lost Youth" video: http://www2.worksafebc.com/Publications/Multimedia/Videos.asp?reportid=34291.
Injury Type : Fatal
Core Activity : Dairy farming
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0180
Date of Accident : 2003-May
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A dairy farm worker was crushed inside the feed mixing wagon while mixing feed for cattle.
Injury Type : Bruised shoulder, collar bone, ribs, and pelvis
Core Activity : Residential construction
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0221
Date of Accident : 2003-Apr
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
Four workers raised a framed wall, 30 feet by 8 feet. Thinking that the other three workers were holding the wall, all four simultaneously left the wall unattended while reaching for braces. The wall fell backward onto a young worker.
Injury Type : Fractured arm and ribs, cracked vertebrae, crushed larynx
Core Activity : Dairy farming
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 0174
Date of Accident : 2003-Apr
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A worker became entangled in an unguarded revolving power take off (PTO) on a manure pump.
Injury Type : Fracture of skull and orbital bone of one eye; possible internal injuries
Core Activity : Formwork stripping
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0154
Date of Accident : 2003-Apr
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Worker's experience at this task is unknown
Two workers were working in a boom-supported elevating work platform of a self-propelled boom lift when they were struck by a moving Skytrain.
Injury Type : Cuts and impact trauma to one eye
Core Activity : House construction
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0153
Date of Accident : 2003-Apr
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1 year of experience at this task
A worker was struck in the eye by a deflected nail as he used a pneumatic nailer to fasten blocking between floor joists.
Injury Type : Broken ankles
Core Activity : Ranching work
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 0148
Date of Accident : 2003-Apr
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Worker's experience at this task is unknown
A young worker was riding on top of fence posts being carried on the front forks of a moving farm tractor. The fence posts rolled, the worker fell to the ground, and before the tractor could be stopped, both of his ankles were broken by the crossbar on the front forks.
Injury Type : Crushing injuries to one foot
Core Activity : Industrial, commercial, institutional or highrise residential construction
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0135
Date of Accident : 2003-Apr
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
After two failed attempts to lift a 44-foot-long tilt-up panel, the panel was re-rigged with web slings for a third attempt. The web slings failed and a worker's foot was struck by the falling panel.
Injury Type : Two fingers severed, another finger crushed (one hand)
Core Activity : Commercial laundry or linen, uniforms, or diaper supply
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0130
Date of Accident : 2003-Apr
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1 year of experience at this task
A young worker's hand was caught in a garment conveyor chain drive.
Injury Type : Broken leg
Core Activity : Oil/gas drilling
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 0128
Date of Accident : 2003-Mar
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
The hinge pin supporting the boom of a 30-ton picker unit failed while a blow-out preventer assembly (BOP) was being lifted off its trailer. Either the BOP or part of the boom struck a worker, breaking his leg.
Injury Type : Bruising
Core Activity : Retail store
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 0117
Date of Accident : 2003-Mar
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
A young worker stepped onto a ceiling portion of an in-store display booth. The ceiling collapsed and the worker fell just over 3 metres to the floor.
Injury Type : Amputation of arm
Core Activity : Sawmill
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 0096
Date of Accident : 2003-Mar
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
A worker was performing clean-up duties near an unguarded chain drive sprocket on the outfeed side of a trim saw system. The worker's clothing became entangled in the exposed chain drive, which resulted in the worker's arm being pulled off.
Injury Type : Fatal
Core Activity : General retail delivery
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 0093
Date of Accident : 2003-Mar
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
The driver of a motorcycle was thrown into northbound traffic and struck by another vehicle.
Injury Type : Mild hypothermia
Core Activity : Site development
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0077
Date of Accident : 2003-Mar
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
A worker was traversing the base of an area pre-loaded with sand. The worker sank up to his thighs in liquified soils (quick-sand).
Injury Type : Crushed leg
Core Activity : Cable logging
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 0065
Date of Accident : 2003-Mar
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
A worker's leg was crushed by a runaway log.
Injury Type : Crushed thumb tip
Core Activity : Greenhouse - debulbing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 0223
Date of Accident : 2003-Feb
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A greenhouse worker's thumb was injured in a chain and sprocket of a debulbing machine.
Injury Type : Amputation of 3 finger tips (no bone loss)
Core Activity : Sawmill
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 0064
Date of Accident : 2003-Feb
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
A young worker caught his fingers between the tail edge of a conveyor bed plate and a moving box chain.
Injury Type : Scalp laceration, broken collar bone
Core Activity : Log hauling
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 0051
Date of Accident : 2003-Feb
Young worker (ages 15-24)
More than 2 years' experience at this task
A loaded logging truck rolled over while rounding a corner on a public highway.
Injury Type : Head injury, broken ribs, punctured liver
Core Activity : Oil or gas well drilling
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 0035
Date of Accident : 2003-Feb
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 6 months' experience at this task
Two workers were setting up a pressure wash/chemical pump to clean the drilling rig floor. When the pressure hose became plugged, a worker attached a high-pressure air hose to blow out the plugged line. The 45-gallon chemical supply drum became pressurized and a piece of the drum struck one of the workers.
Injury Type : Fractured ribs
Core Activity : Log home construction
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 0016
Date of Accident : 2003-Jan
Young worker (ages 15-24)
Less than 1 year experience at this task
A worker fell approximately 16 feet during the dismantling and subsequent partial collapse of a log home structure.
Other YW Incidents
You can return to the Top of this page