WorkSafeBC investigation alleges ‘systemic failure’ to manage workplace safety at Oakridge worksite
WorkSafeBC has uncovered a “systemic failure to manage workplace health and safety” at the multibillion-dollar Oakridge construction site in Vancouver, according to court documents obtained by CBC. The search warrant executed last month following an incident where a piece of scaffolding fell 41 stories to an open zone near a public roadway revealed troubling details about the project.
The documents state that the project’s prime contractor admitted that the site was too large to control, leading to significant site pressures. The investigation into the worksite and Ontario-based construction giant EllisDon reveals repeat high-risk violations and a failure to implement necessary controls despite knowing about them.
The overall approach to health and safety by EllisDon was deemed ineffective, resulting in a systematic failure to manage workplace health and safety. The contractor struggled to control exclusion zones, overhead work, and coordinate work activities at the site, putting workers and the public at risk.
EllisDon, however, denied these allegations and asserted their commitment to the highest level of safety on all their projects. The $6.5-billion Oakridge redevelopment project, spanning 11 hectares and including 14 towers, aims to provide housing for nearly 6,000 residents alongside retail spaces and a large park.
Safety concerns arose last February when a tower crane accident claimed the life of Yuridia Flores, a mother of two from Mexico. WorkSafeBC is still investigating the incident, along with a recent scaffolding incident where a steel base plate fell to the ground, narrowly missing workers and bystanders.
Special Provincial Const. Jordan McLellan, who works with WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health and Safety Investigations team, detailed the ongoing investigation into EllisDon and two subcontractors. The search warrant aimed to collect records from one of the subcontractors’ Burnaby office to further the investigation.
The warrant outlines various infractions and violations at the site, totaling 32 in number, prompting a prosecution investigation to uphold occupational health and safety standards in British Columbia. EllisDon’s response to the allegations included denying claims of a willingness to pay a WorkSafeBC sanction and asserting their commitment to safety.
Despite not facing charges related to the incidents, EllisDon continues to cooperate with WorkSafeBC. The agency emphasizes that crane safety is a top priority, with three investigations currently ongoing at the Oakridge worksite. As the investigations progress, ensuring a safe work environment remains paramount for all involved parties.
