Worker was pinned under forklift
British Columbia employer Cypress Mountain Resort has been fined $132,000 for the death of one of its workers, according to a report from CBC.
The incident happened on Oct. 3, 2023, when a 26-year-old man was operating a front-end loader.
Suddenly, the front-end loader began moving unassisted down a mountain slope. The operator attempted to regain control of the vehicle as it rolled downhill, but unfortunately, the loader overturned, trapping him underneath, leading to his tragic demise.
CBC News reported that Sgt. Mark McLean says, "He attempted to try to gain control of the vehicle while it was rolling down the hill, and unfortunately, while he was trying to do that, the vehicle overturned on top of him, and he got caught underneath. That caused his death." Despite the efforts of emergency responders, the young man was declared dead at the scene.
Before the incident, the man exited the cab to check on the forklift's load, CBC reported, citing information from WorkSafeBC.
The resort operator, said WorkSafeBC, failed in multiple ways prior to the fatality:
- It failed to ensure loads that could shift during transportation were restrained.
- It failed to ensure the equipment was capable of safely performing its functions.
- It failed to ensure workers received adequate operator training for lift trucks and were made aware of likely health and safety hazards during their work.
- It failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety.
The tragic accident serves as a somber reminder of the inherent risks associated with heavy machinery operations.
