Conservatives demands crane-safety guidance from WorkSafeBC

The BC Conservatives say WorkSafeBC is taking too long to publish across-the-board recommendations to improve crane safety at construction sites.

It comes after the agency released its report into an accident that killed a 41-year-old mother of two at a Vancouver construciton site last year.

Conservative labour critic Kiel Giddens is also pointing to the death of five workers at a crane collapse in Kelowna four years ago.

“WorkSafe still hasn’t released the report outlining any recommendations or learnings from that serious incident with five fatalities. So that needs to be a priority, that work needs to be a priority,” said Giddens.

He says he’s heard from workers asking for better education on the existing safety rules.

“There seems to be people passing the buck on safety issues. That can’t happen. We have to be completely aligned on safety. We also need more certification and workplace checks from WorkSafe to make sure that they’re actually doing their job, to ensure that those cranes are capable and actually at the current standards.”

Giddens wants the province to step in and direct WorkSafeBC to speed up its investigation and come out with specific recommendations.

“Safety is not a partisan issue. We need to all work together to make sure we’re supporting British Columbia workers to get home to their loved ones safely.”

WorkSafeBC says crane safety is a priority and risks are on the rise, but the agency has a plan.

“A comprehensive crane and rigging risk-reduction strategy has been developed to address increasing risks in the sector,” said a statement from a spokesperson.

The strategy reportedly includes:

• Undertaking a review of all relevant regulations;
• Reviewing worker training, supervisor competencies and qualifications, certification and licensing programs;
• Enhancing WorkSafeBC’s Provincial Crane Inspectional Team;
• And ensuring that the BC Association for Crane Safety is appropriately positioned to support the sector.

WorkSafeBC says it has incorporated key learnings from the investigation following the Kelowna deaths, including for tower crane operation, assembly, disassembly, and repositioning.

“However, WorkSafeBC will not be releasing its investigation report, as the matter is now before the BC Prosecution Service,” the spokesperson said.

B.C. Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside says the ministry is working with WorkSafeBC on the new strategy.

“We are also supporting WorkSafeBC as they increase staffing in their crane inspection team, develop new regulations for more frequent tower crane inspections and update the Occupational Health & Safety regulations to address evolving worksite complexities. We won’t stop until all workers are safe at their jobs,” said Whiteside in a statement to 1130 NewsRadio.

WorkSafeBC says it conducted approximately 1,000 inspections related to cranes in 2024.