WorkSafeBC opens 3rd investigation into accidents at Oakridge construction site

Search warrants obtained by CBC reveal the existence of a WorkSafeBC investigation into a third accident at the Oakridge construction site — as well as efforts by prime contractor EllisDon to counter allegations the massive project is plagued by a failure to protect worker safety.

WorkSafeBC's Occupational Health and Safety unit is now investigating an incident in which metal pipes fell 50 metres to the ground from a crane last October — in addition to two other accidents which occurred at Oakridge in 2024, one ending in the death of a worker.

Investigators obtained a search warrant in December for records of the crane company — which was allegedly told it was not facing any legal jeopardy because the business "and their employees were more vital to have as witnesses into the prosecution of EllisDon."

Meanwhile, according to court documents, WorkSafeBC sought safety records from EllisDon's Richmond offices in early February after a lawyer for the Ontario construction giant told investigators the company was eager to "formally document their willingness to cooperate."

"I believe that, as advertised by EllisDon, they have a complete and robust health and safety program which is implemented at each job site," WorkSafeBC Special Const. Jordan McLellan wrote in his application to obtain the company's training procedures.

"The documentation required by WSBC investigators is available according to their legal counsel."

'They will be removed'

The $6.5-billion redevelopment of the 11-hectare Oakridge site occupies roughly eight city blocks and includes 14 towers that are being built to provide 3,000 homes for nearly 6,000 residents.

Developers Westbank and Quadreal describe the project — which includes 300 stores and a giant park — as both one of the single biggest developments in Vancouver's history and "one of the most monumental redevelopments currently underway in North America."

Concerns about safety at the site were first raised last February when a tower crane dropped its load, killing Yuridia Flores, a mother of two from Mexico, who was working on the ground below.

A little over four months later, on July 30, a piece of scaffolding fell 41 storeys to an open zone near a busy public roadway. No one was hurt, but investigators claim "the potential for serious injuries or a fatality [was] significant." 

CBC revealed the existence of investigations into both those incidents last fall after obtaining another search warrant written by McLellan relating to the scaffolding mishap.

The latest court documents — filed in Vancouver provincial court — describe the third accident, in which a tower crane "was transferring a load of metal pipe from the ground to an elevated work area" on Oct. 2 when a number of pipes slipped their rigging.

"The load tipped sideways and released multiple pieces of pipe which fell to the ground outside of a controlled zone below and into a perimeter fence that was adjacent to vehicle traffic on West 41st Avenue from approximately 150 feet in the air," the search warrant says.

"There were no injuries."

In a statement, EllisDon said the company is co-operating fully with WorkSafeBC's investigation and "continuously undertakes comprehensive reviews of our safety systems to reduce risks."

"For this project specifically, we have added additional safety personnel, enhanced assessment and training of crane operators and hoisting workers, and increased monitoring and verification of exclusions zones," the company said.

"If parties do not adhere to EllisDon safety protocols and procedures, they will be removed from the site without negotiation."

'Narrowly missed ... by a piece of falling pipe'

Activity at the Oakridge construction site has generated significant public interest, leading WorkSafeBC investigators to scour social media and news reports for images of the October incident.

They zeroed in on an Instagram account with 40,000 followers and a post headlined: "Did a load of pipe just fall off a building in Vancouver?"

The exact cause of the incident is not spelled out in the warrant, although the document suggests that chains were used as rigging to bind the pipes.

"Rigging metal on metal is slippery. It has no grip or friction," the warrant says.

Investigators interviewed the crane operator as well as the rigger who prepared the pipes for transport: he allegedly said he asked the gas fitter who delivered the pipes "if chains were usually used to lift the bundles" and was told they were.

"[He] decided to use the chains on metal. He felt that he lacked the confidence to decide not to proceed with the lift," the search warrant says.

"When the load was approximately 150 feet in the air, one side of the double-choked chains slipped into the centre of the bundle. The load went partially vertical, and two pieces of pipe, from the centre of the load, fell out and dropped to the ground."

The rigger told investigators he "was narrowly missed (within 10 feet) by a piece of falling pipe."

The crane operator allegedly said he noticed that the bundle of pipes was rigged with chains and not nylon straps. 

He "observed a fallen pipe damage the perimeter fence along West 41st Street and witnessed vehicles, including buses, driving in the lane right adjacent to the perimeter fence prior to the incident," the warrant says.

A 'willingness to cooperate'

Taken together, the two latest search warrants provide a window into the relationship between EllisDon as prime contractor and the subcontractors hired to perform individual tasks.

EllisDon provided CBC with a copy of the February warrant for the company's records; the document concerns the scaffolding incident and claims an Alberta-based "concrete-focused" construction company acting as a subcontractor is also under investigation.

McLellan claims a lawyer for the subcontractor advised WorkSafeBC that "no ... employees will be providing a voluntary statement to WSBC."

The search warrant says workers were moving scaffolding from the 40th to the 41st floor when the incident occurred.

An architect working on the project claimed she sent an email to the subcontractor "about using a cantilevered scaffold but received no feedback from EllisDon after the email was forwarded by [the subcontractor] to EllisDon."

According to a supervisor for yet another subcontractor, "There were no nets to prevent falling objects or rocks [from concrete chipping] from falling onto workers below. There was no control zone below if objects were to fall from the 41st floor."

In a search warrant obtained last October in relation to the scaffolding incident, McLellan alleged a "systemic failure to manage workplace health and safety" at Oakridge.

He also laid out the justification for a "prosecution investigation," which WorkSafeBC says involves possible contraventions of the Workers Compensation Act or Occupational Health and Safety regulations.

"There is an extensive internal listing of near miss/disciplinary infractions/repeat infractions, 32 violations in total," McLellan wrote.

The officer struck a different tone in the search warrant issued in the first week of February.

"I understand that EllisDon has repeatedly requested that they voluntarily provide information to WSBC investigators through their legal counsel and has requested that investigators formally document their willingness to cooperate," McLellan wrote.

"WSBC is grateful when employers cooperate with investigations and work with investigators in the fact-finding process. In this circumstance, a legal application to obtain documents from EllisDon is necessary but shouldn't suggest that EllisDon is not cooperating in this investigation."

in an emailed statement, WorkSafeBC said all three incidents remain under investigation.

"Crane safety is a priority for WorkSafeBC.," a spokesperson for the agency wrote.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.