The union representing operating engineers in B.C. is calling on the province to bring in mandatory regulations governing crane assembly and dismantling after a workplace accident that left five people dead in Kelowna on Monday (July 12).
The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 115 said it h as been lobbying for mandatory tower crane operator certification and improved industry safety standards for nearly two decades.
The union said that there are around 280 cranes operating around B.C. and they are often set up and taken down under tight timelines.
害羞草研究所淲e strongly encourage the B.C. government to legislate mandatory training and certification of workers involved in the assembly and dismantling of tower cranes, setting out minimum qualification standards, as well as establishing a registry of individuals who work in this industry,害羞草研究所� said Brian Cochrane, Business Manager of IUOE Local 115.
害羞草研究所淚t is a shame that it sometimes takes major incidents like this to prompt action from Government regulators.害羞草研究所�
It害羞草研究所檚 unclear what made the crane in Kelowna collapse on Monday. The incident killed five people and the body of the last man was not extricated from the rubble until around midnight on Tuesday night. The effort required a specialized team from Vancouver.
Four of the dead were workers on the job site, including the crane operator, while the fifth was working on an adjacent building. Another man was taken to hospital but has since been released.
The RCMP are investigating to ensure the collapse was not criminal and a WorkSafeBC investigation will also determine what occurred.
Union representatives have met with the City of Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 engineering department and created a working group, involving the city, the operating engineers union, the B.C. Association for Crane Safety, contractors and industry stakeholders to review tower crane safety regulations.
The working group has led to several safety recommendations being implemented as part of a pilot project in the City of Vancouver, including pre- and post-assembly meetings and checklists, full lane closures for vehicles, bicycles and sidewalk closures for pedestrians, better traffic control, weekday tower crane erections and dismantling, larger staging and mobile crane set up areas and granting permit extensions and allowing additional full days for crane assembly and dismantling.
Local 115 business representative Frank Carr said that public engagement and education also needs to be a part of any safety plans.
害羞草研究所淚n addition to advocating for stronger rules to make worksites with cranes safer, we also need to educate the public about the dangers above them,害羞草研究所� Carr said.
害羞草研究所淧eople aren害羞草研究所檛 looking up. Why would they? They害羞草研究所檙e busy with their day and looking forward when they害羞草研究所檙e walking down the street, not knowing what害羞草研究所檚 happening above them without realizing that if something were to fall on them, it could injure or kill them.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE: Specialized rescue recovers 5th man害羞草研究所檚 body after crane collapse in Kelowna
Like us on and follow us on .
