British Columbia: WorkSafeBC has highlighted growing concerns about crane safety in British Columbia, noting a rise in crane operations on increasingly complex worksites. This comes after several serious crane-related incidents, including a 2021 tower crane collapse in Kelowna that killed five workers and a recent fatality at the Oakridge Park worksite.
In response, WorkSafeBC convened a meeting in March with 130 crane-sector stakeholders. This group, comprising operators, employers, contractors, and the BC Association for Crane Safety, developed a comprehensive risk-reduction strategy. Key recommendations include enhancing crane operator certification, improving training for crane-related roles, increasing the capacity of the crane inspection team, and updating regulations on crane inspections.
Todd McDonald, Head of Prevention Services for WorkSafeBC, emphasized the need for improved training, supervision, and safe-work practices to adapt to the evolving work environment. The BC Association for Crane Safety, represented by Clinton Connell, is actively collaborating with WorkSafeBC to support this strategy and ensure safe crane operations across the province.
WorkSafeBC will discuss these recommendations with various stakeholders, including the B.C. Ministry of Labor and Skilled Trades BC. Additionally, a new regulation requires employers to submit a Notice of Project (NOP) for any tower crane activities starting in October, allowing WorkSafeBC to monitor and ensure the qualifications and safety of crane operations.
With approximately 400 tower cranes operating in B.C., WorkSafeBC Provincial Crane Inspection Team conducted 1,200 inspections in 2023, underscoring the ongoing efforts to mitigate risks and enhance crane safety.