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Following a deadly crane collapse in Saskatoon, an occupational health and safety expert says such events are “always preventable.”
The collapse, at work site on Webster Street in the Forest Grove neighbourhood on the morning of July 5, led to the death of a 38-year-old man from Alberta, while another 37-year-old man was injured.
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Occupational health and safety professor with the University of British Columbia, Christopher McLeod, said these situations are typically a result of failed safety procedures.
He pointed to an incident four years ago in B.C., where five workers died due to a crane collapse.
“This type of work is very complex and hazardous and requires a great deal of training, as well as site management and coordination,” he said.
McLeod said a catastrophic event such as a crane collapse is “almost always going to lead to injury or loss of life.”
He said there are also a significant amount of “near misses” involving cranes which happen far more frequently than fatalities.
McLeod said WorkSafeBC has responded to the number of serious incidents in that province by creating new tower crane requirements in October 2024.
He noted the new regulations focus on improving safety through several measures that include the requirement of a qualified supervisor, and focus on key areas like crane assembly and dismantling.
“I would expect that the Saskatchewan Workers Compensation Board and health and safety regulator (Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety) will be certainly looking at what WorkSafeBC has done as a consequence of this accident,” McLeod said.
McLeod stressed the importance of implementing safety regulations in work sites on a daily basis.
“Construction work sites are highly dynamic and (it’s) very challenging to control all the risks,” he said, adding that sites with multiple subcontractors working can add to the issue.
McLeod said while the likelihood of crane incidents pose a low risk to the public, it’s important to respect construction work zones to ensure everyone is safe.
A statement from the province said Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Occupational Health Officers are continuing their inspection following the incident, but will not be sharing any details publicly.
— With files from 980 CJME’s Marija Robinson
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