The two workers were struck by a bundle of lumber
Lumber carrier United Gateway Logistics Inc. was fined $15,873.20 following an investigation by WorkSafeBC, who were looking into an incident which occurred at the firm’s lumber storage yard, and which left two workers fatally injured.
The incident occurred at the firm’s lumber yard in New Westminster, B.C. WorkSafeBC says that the workers had been replacing broken strapping on a bundle of lumber, which had more bundles of lumber which were stacked on top of it. While working, this stack fell onto the workers, fatally injuring them.
Following its investigation, WorkSafeBC found that multiple stacks of lumber in the yard were in fact not level, offset and generally unstable. Furthermore, both workers had not been given adequate training in this task, nor were they adequately supervised.
WorkSafeBC says that “the workplace lacked overall health and safety practices including adequate inspections, safety meetings, and safe work procedures.”
In addition, “the firm failed to ensure regular inspections were made of its workplace to prevent the development of unsafe working conditions, a repeated violation. The firm also failed to ensure the health and safety of all workers at its worksite, and failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety.”
According to WorkSafeBC, these are all high-risk violations. In addition, WorkSafeBC also says that the firm did not keep records of orientation and training, which is a repeated violation.
