BC Hydro says corrective actions have been taken after a Site C worker fell more than 40 feet during construction last fall.

The incident took place in November when the worker fell through a hole in a formwork shoring deck while working on the generating station.

The worker was taken to hospital with undisclosed injuries, and WorkSafe BC fined the AFDE Partnership $528,631.72 in March following an investigation of the incident.

“We take all safety incidents very seriously and we are committed to ensuring our contractors have the proper safety projects and procedures in place,” said Site C spokesman Dave Conway.

“AFDE has fully complied with all WorkSafeBC orders for this incident. They have also implemented several additional corrective actions, including improved fall protection plans and coming up with alternative methods for this type of work in the future.”

Conway said AFDE is responsible for paying the WorkSafe penalty, and that “there is no impact to the project budget.”

The fine was issued to the AFDE Partnership on March 17 following a work site inspection after the accident, according to WorkSafeBC. 

The investigation found the  worker was wearing a fall protection harness but was not connected to a lifeline when they fell through a hole in a formwork shoring deck. The extent of the worker’s injuries were not disclosed. 

“WorkSafeBC observed that the hole the worker fell through was one of multiple uncovered, unguarded openings in shoring decks within the work zone,” reads a report from WorkSafe.  “WorkSafeBC also observed a ladder that workers used to access work areas that placed them above erected guardrail sections.”

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