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YW Accidents
2006 Incidents Involving Young Workers
A Notice of Incident (NI) report is a preliminary report of an incident that WorkSafeBC officers respond to. The NI report is based on information obtained as soon as possible after the incident but before an investigation into causes has been completed.
This information may help you prevent similar accidents in your workplace.
THE NI INFORMATION IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Injury Type : Broken bones in back and foot, bruising
Core Activity : Manufacture of oriented strand board
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006154930382
Date of Incident : 2006-Dec
A young worker was assisting with repairs at the baghouse. While climbing up a caged, fixed ladder, the worker lost hold and fell through the ladder, landing 20 feet below.
Injury Type : Violence in the workplace
Core Activity : Retail liquor store
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006156240086
Date of Incident : 2006-Dec
A beer and wine store was robbed at gunpoint. The cashier (a young worker) was not physically harmed.
Injury Type : Crush injuries to hand
Core Activity : Sawmill
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006140970468
Date of Incident : 2006-Dec
A young worker reached into the banding press area to mark banding placements on a load. The bander cycled, causing the worker's hand to be crushed between the load of lumber and the press.
Injury Type : Leg injury (1 worker); head and shoulder injury (1 worker)
Core Activity : Concrete forming
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006117080420
Date of Incident : 2006-Dec
At a work site, steel four-sided column forms stored in the storage yard were being dismantled for shipping off the site. Workers had removed one side of a form and were taking out the remaining corner bolts and nuts when the form collapsed, striking two workers, including a young worker.
Injury Type : Minor head laceration
Core Activity : Shellfish farming
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006117540284
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
As a crate was being offloaded adjacent to the edge of a wharf, it dislodged from the load hook and fell into the water. A young worker who attempted to prevent the crate from sinking fell into the water and nearly drowned.
Injury Type : Soft-tissue injury to arm
Core Activity : General trucking
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2007117930017
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
A young worker in the cab of a forklift reached through the mast to remove a packing slip from the load. The midsection of the worker's body pushed a lever that lowered the mast, pinning his arm between the mast and a cross-member.
Injury Type : Fractured jaw
Core Activity : Oil or gas well drilling
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006153370189
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
A young worker was removing a series of ratchet straps from a pipe table, using a bar to ease tension on the straps. The worker slipped and lost control of the bar, which then struck the worker's jaw.
Injury Type : Serious to minor injuries (at least 14 workers)
Core Activity : Transportation of workers
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006090580603
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
A vehicle transporting agricultural workers left the roadway and rolled down an embankment. Some workers, including two young workers, sustained serious injuries.
Injury Type : Second-degree burns to upper body
Core Activity : Fast food restaurant
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006113830309
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
Water was being boiled in a pressure cooker. When the lid was removed, water splashed over the upper body of a young worker.
Injury Type : Lacerated arm
Core Activity : Framing
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006143950322
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
A young worker was cutting 3/8-inch board with a skill saw. His glove caught on the edge of the board and the saw lacerated his arm.
Injury Type : Amputation of fingertip
Core Activity : Supermarket
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 2006120030207
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
A young worker was slicing food with a food processor. The worker's hand slipped down the handle and one finger contacted the blade.
Injury Type : Minor seatbelt injuries
Core Activity : Log hauling
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006124490115
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
A loaded log truck with trailer was travelling on a highway after a recent snowfall. At an area where the highway edge had been overplowed, the unit's trailer tracked into the ditch and pulled the truck over onto its side. The driver (a young worker) sustained only minor injuries.
Injury Type : Broken hip and arm
Core Activity : Renovations
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006157640082
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
A young worker stepped on some roof decking material that gave way. The worker, who was not wearing personal fall protection, fell to the concrete floor 24 feet below.
See a slide show about a young construction worker's fatal fall:
http://www2.worksafebc.com/publications/multimedia/slideshows.asp?ReportID=34281
Injury Type : Fractured arm
Core Activity : Tree services (land clearing)
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006129730373
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
A young worker was caught under the roots of a fallen tree when the tree sprang back into the upright position.
Injury Type : Crush injuries to foot
Core Activity : Pre-engineered building construction
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006134580353
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
A forklift was moving a steel column while a young worker manually directed one end of the column past an obstruction. The forklift ran over the worker's foot.
Injury Type : Amputation of lower leg
Core Activity : Sawmill
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006157380057
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
A young worker was performing clean-up duties in a sawmill when his leg became caught between a floor sweep bar and the tail-end shaft. (The floor sweep bar is 17 feet long. It slowly rotates around on a chain and sprocket system.)
Injury Type : Abrasion and bruising of leg
Core Activity : Manufacture of concrete products
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006117670145
Date of Incident : 2006-Nov
A young worker's coveralls were caught in the shaft of the lead pulley on a running conveyor.
Injury Type : Fractures, burns, bruising
Core Activity : Plywood manufacture
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006110750423
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A young worker was clearing a piece of veneer from the vacuum system between veneer bins. He got hung up between a sheet of veneer, the stacker air box, and the transport belt shaft, and was pulled over the shaft into the veneer bin.
Injury Type : Concussion (1 worker); lacerations, bruising, abrasions (2 workers)
Core Activity : Crew transportation
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 2006137160161
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A helicopter was using the "tow-in" method to pick up two logging workers (one of them a young worker) in an area that did not have a helicopter pad for access and egress. The helicopter skids lost contact with the ground and the helicopter then gained altitude and rotated 360 degrees, contacting some small trees, before crashing. One of the passengers was on board and the other, who was in the process of entering, fell backwards away from the helicopter when it crashed.
Injury Type : Scrapes and contusions; upper body strains
Core Activity : Cable logging
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006111810236
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A young worker was doing a road change on a cable logging operation. The skyline tightened and whipped back, striking the worker in the face.
Injury Type : Bruising
Core Activity : Mushroom picking
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006101100081
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A young worker fell from the bottom rung of a portable ladder while repositioning a carton rack on a wooden mushroom bed. The worker fell onto a temporary wooden work platform. The worker broke through the platform's planking and landed at grade (almost 9 feet below).
Injury Type : Non-injury
Core Activity : Concrete formwork
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006122700678
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A load of roofing material (1900 pounds) was being hoisted by a tower crane. The load came off the forks, fell approximately 100 feet, and brushed the arm and leg of a young worker at grade.
Injury Type : Fractured vertebra
Core Activity : Coring holes in a wet well
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006157410085
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A young worker was preparing to descend an unsecured extension ladder into a wet well (21 feet deep, 8 feet in diameter) to core holes for the installation of inlet pipes. The worker was standing near the top of the ladder when it shifted and the worker fell approximately 20 feet.
Injury Type : Bruises, contusions, sprains, strains
Core Activity : Gutter installation
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006155730335
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A young worker fell approximately 20 feet from a wood frame scaffold while measuring gutter lengths.
Injury Type : Severe allergic reaction
Core Activity : Logging
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006124490105
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A young worker on a logging operation suffered a severe allergic reaction to food included in the camp lunch.
Injury Type : Electrical burns (2 workers)
Core Activity : Concrete pumping
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006118050180
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
After a concrete pour was completed, the concrete boom pump was being positioned to clear out the boom pump lines. The boom pump contacted an energized 14.4-kV overhead power line. The driver of the truck (a young worker) and another worker were injured.
Injury Type : Fractured vertebra and jaw
Core Activity : Bridge construction
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006034450399
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A young worker was working on a floating bridge. When a work platform brace failed, he struck his head and back on the work platform, landing in the water approximately 3 feet below.
Injury Type : Undetermined injuries
Core Activity : Concrete formwork
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006117080349
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A young worker was standing on a 2x10 plank that was positioned across two stairway landings. The worker fell from the plank onto the stairway and rolled down it, coming to rest at the lower landing.
Injury Type : Minor injuries
Core Activity : Log hauling
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006124490102
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A loaded logging truck failed to negotiate a corner on a highway. As the driver (a young worker) attempted to correct the turn, the load shifted. The tractor and loaded trailer tipped onto their side, skidded across the oncoming lane of traffic, and stopped in the ditch.
Injury Type : Chest injuries (1 worker); sore neck (1 worker)
Core Activity : Excavating
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970622
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
Two workers were in an unsloped, unshored excavation (2 feet wide by 7 feet deep) when it collapsed. One of the workers (a young worker) was buried up to his chest; the other worker was buried under approximately 3 feet of excavated material. Fortunately, rescue personnel were close by and saved both workers.
Injury Type : Chest strain (1 worker); soreness (1 worker)
Core Activity : Fibreglass, cultured marble product, or acrylic household fixture manufacture
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006128220145
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A saw operator was struck by a falling stone slab. A second worker (a young worker) was struck by the forklift he was operating after he exited it to help the first worker.
Injury Type : Neck injuries, bruised muscles
Core Activity : First aid services
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006124490098
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A pickup truck with an attached mobile treatment centre was on a forest service road, driving to an oil and gas construction site. While descending a steep hill with a corner, the driver (a young worker) had to swerve to miss an animal on the road. The pickup went out of control and rolled into the ditch.
Injury Type : Temporary loss of consciousness
Core Activity : Well-servicing operation
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006124490097
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
Workers were setting up and preparing a sour gas well to conduct a slickline well-servicing operation. The lubricator for the slickline had been positioned and the wellhead had been purged with nitrogen. To facilitate the entry of the deadweight into the wellhead, a worker climbed up onto the wellhead. As the main wellhead valve was opened, a faint hissing was heard. The worker on the wellhead (a young worker) collapsed as a result of exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas.
Injury Type : Fatal
Core Activity : Residential construction
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970615
Date of Incident : 2006-Oct
A young worker died after falling from the top plate of a wall supporting the framing of a 5:12 roof. He fell approximately 19 feet to the concrete pad at ground level. The worker was wearing a full-body harness but was not tied off to the lifeline.
Injury Type : Severe crush injuries
Core Activity : Sawmill
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006090580484
Date of Incident : 2006-Sep
A young worker was cleaning photo cells on the small log line when the hydraulics closed, pinning the worker.
Injury Type : Serious injuries to arm
Core Activity : Sawmill
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006115520123
Date of Incident : 2006-Sep
As a young worker was cleaning wood waste from the ground under a conveyor belt, his arm was drawn into and around the belt conveyor tail spool.
Injury Type : Amputation of part of one finger
Core Activity : Aluminum window and door manufacture
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006130260168
Date of Incident : 2006-Sep
While a young worker was operating a chop saw, his hand contacted the rotating blade.
Injury Type : Serious hand injuries
Core Activity : Restaurant
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 2006112840063
Date of Incident : 2006-Sep
A young worker was using an electric vegetable slicer with a shredder plate attachment to shred cheese. The worker was manually removing finger-sized balls/rods of cheese that remained between the push plate and shredder wheel before beginning to shred a different type of cheese. Two of the worker's fingers contacted the spinning wheel.
Injury Type : Crush injury to finger
Core Activity : Manufacture, sales, and installation of steel screw piles
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006154930240
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A young worker's finger was caught between the dies of a 40-ton hydraulic/electric press.
Injury Type : Fractured leg
Core Activity : Concrete forms delivery
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006112850432
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A young worker was unstrapping some concrete formwork materials when they fell from the flatdeck delivery truck and landed on his leg.
Injury Type : Violence in the workplace
Core Activity : Gas bar
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 2006138190289
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A gas station was robbed by a person wielding a knife. The attendant (a young worker) was not physically harmed.
Injury Type : Amputation of fingertip
Core Activity : Pipeline construction
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006144250183
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A piece of 40-inch flume piping was being picked up using an excavator and bucket and a length of chain with grab hooks as a sling. As the lifting assembly was tightening, a hook came loose. A young worker tried to re-hook it without stopping the lifting operation; one finger was caught between the hook and the chain.
Injury Type : Burns (1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree)
Core Activity : Drywalling
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006090890058
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A young worker was carrying an unidentified open container of liquid that ignited and caused burns to his body.
Injury Type : Fractured leg, puncture wounds
Core Activity : Home improvement centre
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006122700596
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A forklift backed over a young worker, pinning one leg between the forklift and steel racking.
Injury Type : Minor electrical shock
Core Activity : Building renovations
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006122700595
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A jackhammer operated by a young worker hit an energized 12-kV underground conductor.
Injury Type : Contusion to ribs
Core Activity : Heavy equipment, machinery, or parts, manufacture or installation
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006110210269
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A young worker was using a pitch-bender machine to adjust the pitch of a propeller when the pitching block slipped out and struck the worker.
Injury Type : Crush injury to leg
Core Activity : Concrete product manufacture
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006120030161
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A forklift operator stopped the machine to talk to another worker (a young worker). The operator was not aware that the rear wheels were turned to the right. When the forklift moved, it rotated at an unexpected angle and ran over the young worker's leg.
Injury Type : Broken jaw
Core Activity : Public horse-riding stable
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006137101782
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A young worker was kicked by a horse being tended.
Injury Type : Amputation of 2 fingertips
Core Activity : Wood products remanufacture
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006115520100
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A young worker was attempting to straighten pieces of wood being fed into a trim saw. One hand contacted the running saw blade.
Injury Type : Temporary loss of consciousness; contusions and abrasions to face, arm
Core Activity : Auto service and tire repair
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006156680009
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A worker was inflating a dismounted farm tractor tire at a tire shop. The tire blew off the one-piece rim, striking the worker.
View a slide show profiling three serious accidents that occurred during tire servicing:
http://www2.worksafebc.com/publications/multimedia/slideshows.asp?ReportID=34001
Injury Type : Exposure to a hazardous substance (mercury vapour) (4 workers)
Core Activity : Medical practice
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006109750134
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A worker noticed small silver "droplets" on the surface of her workstation. The employer cleaned up the area with household cleaners. Test results showed that material was mercury and that the work site was contaminated. Four workers, including one young worker, were exposed to mercury vapour.
View a bulletin about mercury contamination (based on this incident):
http://www2.worksafebc.com/publications/posters.asp?ReportID=34276
Injury Type : Crush injury to foot
Core Activity : Waste removal
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970524
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A young worker tried to climb on board a garbage truck while the truck was backing up. The worker slipped and the truck ran over his foot.
Injury Type : Amputation of several fingers
Core Activity : Shake or shingle mill
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006137290258
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A young worker was using a clipper saw to cut cedar board when his hand inadvertently contacted the blade.
Injury Type : Fractures to both feet
Core Activity : Roofing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006157550006
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A young worker helping to install a sheet metal roof (4/12 slope) fell approximately 16 feet to the ground. No fall protection system was in place.
Injury Type : Puncture wound to leg
Core Activity : Concrete reinforcing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006157550002
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A young worker was stepping down to a lower level when one leg was punctured by a short length of protruding rebar.
Injury Type : Severe lacerations to hand
Core Activity : Welding
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 2006118870514
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A young worker was preparing structural steel to complete a welding operation when his hand-held grinder kicked back and struck his hand.
Injury Type : Lacerated arm
Core Activity : Sheet metal work
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006122700569
Date of Incident : 2006-Aug
A young worker was injured when the portable grinder he was using kicked back. The grinder was fitted with a wood cutting blade.
Injury Type : Crushed foot requiring amputation
Core Activity : Food, beverage, or tobacco product wholesale
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006129730253
Date of Incident : 2006-Jul
A young worker was operating a powered pallet jack while loading/unloading in the warehouse. The worker lost control of the machine and slammed into a stationary unmanned forklift. The worker's foot was caught between the pallet jack and the forklift.
Injury Type : Amputated finger
Core Activity : Baked goods manufacture
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006157520002
Date of Incident : 2006-Jul
A young worker's hand contacted the unguarded band saw blade of a bun slicer.
Injury Type : Back injuries, contusions of arm and leg
Core Activity : Framing or residential forming
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970456
Date of Incident : 2006-Jul
A young worker fell 10 feet from shoring while attempting to remove forming.
Injury Type : Lacerated leg, whiplash, soreness
Core Activity : Building formwork
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 2006101920043
Date of Incident : 2006-Jul
Two workers fell less than 10 feet when site-built scaffolding failed where a piece of plywood was bridging a gap between scaffold planks. One of the two (a young worker) was injured.
Injury Type : Lacerated leg, bruised head
Core Activity : Painting
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970443
Date of Incident : 2006-Jul
A young worker fell approximately 12 feet from a damaged combination ladder that was set up on a mobile baker's scaffold not properly secured to the floor.
Injury Type : Fractured jaw
Core Activity : Drilling
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970533
Date of Incident : 2006-Jul
A young worker was struck by a high-pressure hose from a mobile drilling rig.
Injury Type : Minor burn to arm
Core Activity : Supermarket/gas bar
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006109910161
Date of Incident : 2006-Jul
A gas attendant (young worker) was filling the propane tank on an RV when a small explosion occurred and flames crawled up the outside of the RV from the propane filler intake. The pilot light of the RV's furnace had not been turned off, although the attendant was told this had been done.
Injury Type : Lacerated hand, strained neck
Core Activity : Video store
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006150180149
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A 24-hour video store was robbed by a person wielding an axe. The young worker on duty was physically assaulted.
Injury Type : Laceration and abrasions to arms
Core Activity : Concrete finishing
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970410
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A young worker fell approximately 20 feet from an unsecured extension ladder.
Injury Type : Contusions to hand and fingers
Core Activity : Wood remanufacture
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006112850401
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A young worker was assisting the moulder operator at the infeed end of the moulder. The worker's hand was caught between the infeed rollers and the hold-down roller.
Injury Type : Exposure to H2S gas
Core Activity : Oilfield fluid hauling
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006144250148
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
As workers attempted to add a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) scavenger to a tanker truck, a young worker was exposed to vapours from the tank.
See a WorkSafe bulletin about the hazards of H2S:
http://www2.worksafebc.com/Publications/posters.asp?ReportID=34217
Injury Type : Heat exhaustion
Core Activity : Traffic control
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006124490063
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A traffic control person (young worker) was overcome by heat exhaustion while working on a paving operation.
Injury Type : Facial laceration
Core Activity : Foundry operation
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006140330131
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A forklift was transporting three steel flasks (frames), each 3 feet by 12 feet, from the set-up area in the foundry to the outside storage yard. A 3-pound steel C-clamp used to hold the flasks together flew off and hit the operator in the face.
Injury Type : Broken wrist
Core Activity : Concrete placing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006122700526
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A link between boom sections on a concrete pump truck failed during a concrete pour. The boom fell onto the deck of the building, injuring a young worker.
Injury Type : Shoulder contusion, arm abrasion
Core Activity : Concrete forming
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006138140182
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A young worker fell 14 feet from 4x6 joists to the slab below.
Injury Type : One finger amputated, one broken
Core Activity : Quarry
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006107970382
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A young worker was positioning a rock in a hydraulic stone cutter. The rock fell over, injuring two fingers.
Injury Type : Serious injuries to 3 fingers
Core Activity : Snubbing operations
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006144250140
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
While running pipe (tubing) into a well during snubbing operations, a young worker lost his balance and inadvertently placed his hand in the rotating power tong.
Injury Type : Broken ankle
Core Activity : Framing
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970376
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
Four young workers were bracing a wall in place on a residential construction site. A wall 9 feet by 14 feet was standing (unbraced) against laid-down walls behind the workers. A gust of wind blew the wall forward and onto one of the workers.
Injury Type : Abdominal wound, fractured pelvis
Core Activity : Falling
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006114550157
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A faller (young worker) was struck by the bucket of an excavator. The excavator was helping him to fall a cedar tree 36 inches in diameter.
Injury Type : Fatal
Core Activity : Oil or gas pipeline construction and repair
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006091090012
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A 1-ton flatbed truck turned in front of an oncoming pickup truck. The driver of the pickup (a young worker) died on impact.
Injury Type : Burns to head, torso, leg (1 worker); small burns to arm, face (1 worker)
Core Activity : Restaurant
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006117930137
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A young worker was transferring hot oil back into a deep fryer. A second young worker slipped on liquid on the floor, slid into the first worker, and overturned the hot oil container, causing the hot oil to contact both workers.
Injury Type : Fractured pelvis
Core Activity : Unloading frozen fish
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006145570061
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
Stacked pallet loads of wrapped, frozen fish (weighing approximately 2420 pounds) were being removed from the hold of a fishing vessel. During unloading, the vessel shifted and a pallet load of fish collapsed onto a young worker.
Injury Type : Swollen knee, muscle soreness, arm and back lacerations
Core Activity : Auto service
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006111770116
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A service technician (young worker) was directing a customer to position their vehicle over an oil change pit. The vehicle suddenly accelerated forward, struck the technician, and pushed him into the closed glass and metal roll-up door. Some glass door panels shattered, and the metal frames were pushed outwards from the impact. The worker was momentarily pinned between the front of the vehicle and the roll-up door.
Injury Type : Fatal
Core Activity : Framing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006155070109
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
While framing a single-family dwelling, a young worker fell through a floor opening to the concrete slab 18.5 feet below.
Injury Type : Fatal (2)
Core Activity : Operating a snowmobile on a ski run
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006115131251
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
A snowmobile with two young workers travelling downhill left the main ski run and collided with a rock and tree.
Injury Type : Skull fracture
Core Activity : Wood framing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006122700492
Date of Incident : 2006-Jun
During construction, a carport (30 feet by 24 feet) collapsed on a young worker who was inside.
Injury Type : Broken arm, bruising
Core Activity : Framing
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970374
Date of Incident : 2006-May
A young worker attempted to access a ladder from a residential roof. The worker missed the ladder and fell more than 10 feet to the ground.
Injury Type : Confusion after blow
Core Activity : Concrete formwork
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006114550154
Date of Incident : 2006-May
A young worker was adjusting the height of a beam that was part of a suspended concrete slab formwork system. The beam dislodged from its support and struck the worker's head/shoulder.
Injury Type : Exposure to H2S gas (2 workers)
Core Activity : Gas plant turnaround or maintenance work
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006154930138, 2006154930141
Date of Incident : 2006-May
During gas plant maintenance, which spanned several days, hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) was released. A young worker was exposed to the gas one day, and another worker was exposed a few days later.
Injury Type : Skull fracture, broken ankle, internal injuries
Core Activity : Demolition of roof trusses
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 2006154970239
Date of Incident : 2006-May
A young worker on a flat roof inadvertently stepped on a piece of drywall covering a ventilation shaft. The worker fell down the shaft and landed on the concrete floor more than 20 feet below. The worker was not wearing a personal fall protection system.
Injury Type : Cuts and bruising to face, hip
Core Activity : Structural concrete formwork stripping
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006114550125
Date of Incident : 2006-May
A young worker fell approximately 13 feet from a shoring frame scaffold system, landing on a concrete slab.
Injury Type : 2nd-degree burns to hands, face
Core Activity : Production equipment inspection and commissioning
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006124490053
Date of Incident : 2006-May
A young worker climbed up the access ladder on a 400-barrel tank to conduct a dip gauge of the tank. While he was on the tank, hydrocarbons in the tank ignited. The worker moved quickly to get away as the tank exploded, blowing off its top.
Injury Type : Fatal (4 workers, including 1 young worker)
Core Activity : Ground water testing on site reclamation
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006104070062
Date of Incident : 2006-May
An environmental technician conducting a water check at a seepage shack on a former mine site collapsed as a result of breathing air that was oxygen deficient. The project manager found the first worker, called 911, then went inside the shack to rescue him and also collapsed. When two ambulance attendants arrived, the first paramedic entered the shack and collapsed.
The second paramedic went in to perform rescue and collapsed as well. All four workers died.
View WorkSafe bulletin WS06-03 on oxygen deficiency:
http://www2.worksafebc.com/publications/posters.asp?ReportID=34181
Injury Type : Concussion
Core Activity : Vacuum truck operation
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006124120174
Date of Incident : 2006-May
A vacuum truck operator (young worker) was vacuuming spent carbon from a vertical carbon bed vessel through an 8-inch inspection port. Residual hydrogen in the vessel ignited, expelling a stream of fine carbon particles and propelling the worker backwards. The worker's head struck an adjacent vessel.
Injury Type : Stiffness and soreness of neck
Core Activity : Gas bar
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 2006155980098
Date of Incident : 2006-May
A gas bar attendant (young worker) was held in a head lock by one person while a second person robbed the store.
Injury Type : Bruising
Core Activity : Gas bar
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006147230039
Date of Incident : 2006-May
A vehicle struck a gas bar attendant (young worker) who attempted to stop the vehicle from leaving without paying for gas.
Injury Type : Cuts and bruising to face, legs
Core Activity : Scaffold erection
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006114550120
Date of Incident : 2006-Apr
A young worker fell approximately 10 feet from a metal scaffold system. The worker was trying to install an end frame while standing on a wooden scaffold plank.
Injury Type : Multiple compound fractures of hand
Core Activity : Sawmill
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006112850380
Date of Incident : 2006-Apr
A young worker was cleaning up debris beneath an unscrambler that had not been locked out. When another worker inadvertently restarted the machine, the young worker's hand was pulled into the chain sprocket.
Injury Type : Amputation of 2 fingertips
Core Activity : Framing
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970217
Date of Incident : 2006-Apr
Two workers were attempting to stand a wall 19 feet long by 9 feet high (weighing 400-600 pounds). One worker put a bar under one end of the wall to lift it while the second worker (a young worker) wedged foam under the wall. When the bar slipped, the wall came down on the second worker's fingers.
Injury Type : Puncture wound to thigh
Core Activity : Truss installation
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006155270167
Date of Incident : 2006-Apr
A young worker was working in the rain, using a pneumatic nail gun to fasten braces between roof trusses. He was standing with one foot on the bottom of each of two adjacent trusses. As he prepared to fire a nail, one foot slipped and the worker inadvertently squeezed the trigger. The gun tip pressed his leg and discharged.
Injury Type : Compound fracture of leg
Core Activity : Siding
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006115131160
Date of Incident : 2006-Apr
A young worker fell 10 feet to grade from the unguarded edge of a balcony.
Injury Type : Torn foot ligaments
Core Activity : Rubber mat manufacture
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006137101676
Date of Incident : 2006-Apr
A forklift was moving a material bin, intending to place it near a worker. The forklift braked to turn a corner and the bin fell from the forks. The worker's leg was caught between a material pallet and the rubber mat press machine.
Injury Type : Violence in the workplace
Core Activity : Beer and wine retail store
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006130570128
Date of Incident : 2006-Apr
Three hooded persons entered a beer and wine store and threatened a young worker with what appeared to be bear spray. They left with several bottles of hard liquor.
Injury Type : Amputation of two fingers
Core Activity : Wooden component manufacture
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006090580235
Date of Incident : 2006-Apr
A young worker was cutting 2x4 blocks with a 16-inch-diameter jump saw when his hand was caught.
Injury Type : Penetration wound
Core Activity : Forming a residential foundation
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006015490141
Date of Incident : 2006-Mar
The sidewall of an excavation gave way. A young worker slipped off the edge into the excavation and was impaled by a steel waler bar.
Injury Type : Serious injuries to shoulders, vertebrae (1 worker); minor abrasions (1 young worker)
Core Activity : Workers travelling to pipeline work location
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006154930079
Date of Incident : 2006-Mar
Two pipeline workers were travelling to a worksite when their motor vehicle rolled over after missing a turn at an intersection. The vehicle was travelling too fast for road conditions.
Injury Type : Lacerations and bruising of leg
Core Activity : Metal or screen door or aluminum window manufacturing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006134580108
Date of Incident : 2006-Mar
A young worker was delivering a load of glass panels to a workplace. As the worker removed the ratchet tie-down strap securing the load to the side of the cube van, the load, which had not been stabilized, fell over. The panels, with an estimated weight of 470 pounds, pinned the worker against the floor of the van.
Injury Type : Spinal injuries
Core Activity : Framing and residential forming
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006129730067
Date of Incident : 2006-Mar
A young worker was dismantling a wooden scaffold system when he fell from the scaffold's platform. The worker, who was not protected by a personal fall protection system, landed on the concrete pad approximately 12 feet below.
Injury Type : Head lacerations
Core Activity : Road construction
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970200
Date of Incident : 2006-Mar
A young worker was operating a water truck with a capacity of 1500 gallons. As the truck rounded a corner of the haul road, the rear tire slipped off the road and the truck rolled over.
Injury Type : Minor injuries
Core Activity : Manual tree falling
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 2006116090045
Date of Incident : 2006-Mar
A young worker was in a tree that he had just limbed and topped. When preparing to rappel out of the tree, he tied his rappel line to the carabiner normally used to attach gear to the climber's belt instead of to the frontal D-ring on his climbing belt. The worker then transferred his weight to the rappel line and took off his "scare strap" (secondary fall protection). Fortunately, the worker was able to hold on to his rappel line while sliding 20 metres to the ground.
Injury Type : Compressed vertebrae, cracked rib
Core Activity : Plumbing installation
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006117670038
Date of Incident : 2006-Mar
A young worker was descending an access ladder from the roof of a building. A large piece of steel decking (3 feet by 30 feet) was picked up by a gust of wind and blown into the ladder. The worker fell approximately 15 feet.
Injury Type : Sore eye, nausea, stomach pain (1 worker); ringing in ears (5 workers, including 1 young worker); undetermined injuries (1 worker)
Core Activity : Baked goods manufacture
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006147280102
Date of Incident : 2006-Mar
An explosion occurred in an industrial double-rack bakery oven fired by natural gas. The oven door, which was approximately 6 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 200 pounds in weight, was blown off the oven. Significant blast damage occurred in the area around the oven.
Injury Type : Fractures, crush injuries to finger
Core Activity : Ladder manufacture
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970160
Date of Incident : 2006-Mar
A young worker reached into an unguarded metal punch to remove a piece of material. The punch came down on the worker's finger.
Injury Type : Broken fingers, sprained ankle, bruised ribs
Core Activity : Trailer repair
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006117670033
Date of Incident : 2006-Mar
A lift truck was loading a 400-pound mobile welding machine onto a flatbed truck. The load (welding machine) was not restrained. It fell off the lift truck's forks and struck a young worker.
Injury Type : Shoulder and leg injuries, head laceration
Core Activity : Oil or gas well servicing (by service rig)
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006144250074
Date of Incident : 2006-Mar
Workers on a service rig were pulling pipe (tubing) from a well. A downhole tool was pulled up into the slip assembly, which in turn lifted the rig work floor up and caused a section of the floor to break off. The young worker standing on that section of rig floor fell approximately 10 feet and part of the guardrail landed on top of the worker. Because records were not maintained at the well site, the depth of the inhole tool was not recorded and the workers pulling the pipe were unaware of its location.
Injury Type : Soft-tissue injuries
Core Activity : Wood framing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006115131054
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
A young worker fell 19 feet down an unguarded elevator shaft.
Injury Type : Fatal
Core Activity : Service station
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006090580150
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
A service station attendant (young worker) was stabbed to death.
Injury Type : Puncture wound to chest
Core Activity : Wood frame construction
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970085
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
A young worker was using a pneumatic air nailer to to nail a scaffold brace in place. The worker slipped, and when he attempted to break his fall, a nail discharged into his chest.
Injury Type : Undetermined injury
Core Activity : Wood frame construction
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006155070025
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
A young worker was working from a job-built wooden work platform (20 inches high). As he stepped back to get down, he lost his balance and fell.
Injury Type : Fractured heel
Core Activity : Framing
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006107970089
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
A framing crew was raising a wall section (17 x 11 feet) without first attaching wall stops. The crew pushed the wall too far and it slipped off the deck. A young worker lost his balance and had to jump to ground level about 10 feet below.
Injury Type : Burns/scalds to lower body
Core Activity : Steam cleaning of a fluid hauling truck
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006154930041
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
An oilfield tank truck had just been steam-cleaned. The driver, a young worker, opened the drain valve, not knowing the tank was still pressurized. He was scalded by an uncontrolled spray of steam and hot water. The employer had failed to develop procedures and ensure that workers were trained in these procedures.
Injury Type : Crushing injuries to wrist, hand
Core Activity : Drug, vitamin, pharmaceutical, or beauty aid wholesale
Location : BC
ID Number : 2006134580067
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
A young worker was cleaning the inside face of a conveyor belt on a sorting line when one hand was drawn into the in-running nip point between the belt and an idler roller. The equipment had not been locked out.
Injury Type : Bruised head, shoulder
Core Activity : Wooden truss manufacture
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006117670018
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
As a young worker prepared two 2x4 trusses for shipping, the trusses fell over and struck the worker on the head and shoulder.
Injury Type : Soft tissue injuries to hands and forearms
Core Activity : Planing/Strip machine operation
Location : Northern BC
ID Number : 2006154850033
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
A young worker at a mill had both hands and forearms caught and drawn in between the tailspool of a 67-inch belt conveyor and a shear plate (1/4 x 6 x 65 inches). The shear plate had been allowed to come out of adjustment, creating a pinch point; the plate's normal position is virtually touching the conveyor belt.
Injury Type : Head injury
Core Activity : Concrete forming
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006117080073
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
A young worker fell approximately 18 feet to grade while erecting formwork. There was no fall protection system.
Injury Type : Dislocated fingers
Core Activity : Lathe sawing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006147280046
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
The glove on a young worker's hand was caught at the lower end of an unguarded powered outfeed roll of a lathe saw.
Injury Type : Amputation of two fingertips
Core Activity : Wood frame construction
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006122700401
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
A young worker was helping to install a forklift attachment on a skid steer loader. The malfunctioning attachment fell suddenly, injuring two of his fingers.
Injury Type : Injuries to vertebrae in lower back (2 workers)
Core Activity : Framing or residential forming
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006117670012
Date of Incident : 2006-Feb
A plywood truss roof without cross-bracing in place collapsed when two full lifts of plywood were placed on the roof during construction. Two workers - one of them a young worker - were injured when they fell 18 feet with the collapse.
Injury Type : Severe bruising to leg, pulled leg muscle
Core Activity : Residential construction
Location : Vancouver Island
ID Number : 2006117540021
Date of Incident : 2006-Jan
A young worker lost his balance and fell 11 feet to ground while walking between trusses on a roof. There was no fall protection system in place.
Injury Type : Head and back pain
Core Activity : Structural concrete forming
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006122700395
Date of Incident : 2006-Jan
A worker stepped backwards off an unguarded concrete deck formwork and fell approximately 12 feet, landing on his head and shoulder.
Injury Type : Bruising to back of neck
Core Activity : Manual tree falling and bucking
Location : Central Interior
ID Number : 2006110750044
Date of Incident : 2006-Jan
A young worker was attempting to clear a jackpot (a group of trees had fallen into each other and wouldn't come down). The worker cut a small tree (3.5 inches in diameter) to relieve the jackpot. When the jackpot collapsed, the small tree hit the worker's head, knocking off his hardhat.
Injury Type : Fractured leg, torn ligaments
Core Activity : Low-slope roofing
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006155260002
Date of Incident : 2006-Jan
A young worker slid uncontrolled down a roof with a 6/12 slope. Sliding to and over the roof edge, the worker fell 10 to 12 feet to the ground below.
Injury Type : Fractured hand
Core Activity : Supermarket
Location : Lower Mainland
ID Number : 2006146960004
Date of Incident : 2006-Jan
A young worker was operating a mixer. As the worker reached into the bowl to scrape the dough, one hand got caught in the mixer's paddle.
See an accident alert about similar accidents:
http://www2.worksafebc.com/publications/posters.asp?ReportID=33782
Other YW Incidents
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