Worker dies after getting hit by a boom
Alberta employer North West Crane Enterprises Ltd. is facing 11 charges after one of its workers died in the workplace.
The incident happened in Clairmont on Aug. 22, 2022.
On that day, a worker was positioned under a boom that was sitting on a non-certified pipe stand. The stand then collapsed, causing the boom to hit the worker.
The worker was fatally injured.
North West Crane Enterprises Ltd., being an employer, was charged with 11 counts:
- Section 3(1)(a)(i) of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, between August 4 and August 22, 2022, both dates inclusive, failure to ensure the health and safety of workers engaged in the work of that employer.
- Section 3(1)(a)(i) of the OHS Act, on or about August 22, 2022, failure to ensure the health and safety of a worker engaged in the work of that employer who suffered fatal injuries when a crane boom fell on the worker.
- Section 3(1)(a)(i) of the OHS Act, on or about August 22, 2022, failure to ensure the health and safety of two of their workers by permitting them to work underneath a crane boom, in circumstances where the suspended or elevated boom was a danger to them.
- Section 3(1)(a)(i) of the OHS Act, on or about August 22, 2022, failure to ensure the health and safety of their worker by permitting the worker to work underneath a crane boom suspended and/or supported on a metal A-leg stand which was of insufficient strength and/or made of unsuitable materials to withstand the stresses imposed on it by the boom.
- Section 3(2) of the OHS Act, between August 4 and 22, 2022, both dates inclusive, failure to ensure two of their workers were adequately trained in all matters necessary to perform their work, the dismantling, repairing and rebuilding of a crane boom, in a healthy and safe manner.
- Section 3.3 of the OHS Code, between August 4 and 22, 2022, both dates inclusive, failure to ensure the performance by five workers of a duty under section 256(1) of the OHS Code where section 256(2) did not apply, that a worker must not operate powered mobile equipment, a loader, unless the worker was trained to safely operate the equipment and/or had demonstrated competency in operating the equipment to a competent worker designated by the employer and/or was familiar with the equipment’s operating instructions, contrary to section 3.3 of the OHS Code.
- Section 12(a) of the OHS Code, on or about August 22, 2022, failure to ensure equipment, a metal A-leg stand, was of sufficient size, strength and design and made of suitable materials to withstand the stresses imposed on it during its operation and to perform the function for which it was intended or designed.
- Section 12(b)(i) of the OHS Code, on or about August 22, 2022, failure to ensure equipment, a metal A-leg stand used at a work site, was maintained in a condition that would not compromise the health or safety of the two workers using or transporting it.
- Section 12(c) of the OHS Code, on or about August 22, 2022, failure to ensure limitations on the operation of equipment or any part of it, a metal A-leg stand, were not exceeded.
- Section 68 of the OHS Code, between August 4 and 22, 2022, both dates inclusive, failure to ensure the operator of a lifting device, an overhead crane, the rigger supervised by the operator and the person in charge of a lift were provided with all the information necessary to enable them to readily and accurately determine the weight of the load to be lifted, a crane boom.
- Section 189 of the OHS Code, on or about August 22, 2022, where two workers, could be injured if equipment was dislodged or moved, failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure equipment, a crane boom, was contained, restrained or protected to eliminate the potential
