Kelowna workers prevent tragedy

On October 31st, three employees of Kirkmichael Enterprises Ltd., dba McNiven Masonry, were on the worksite when they saw a worker leave the office trailer, talking on his cell phone with his back to a sewage disposal truck that was backing up onto the site. The truck’s backup alarm was not working at the time. The driver’s view was obstructed and he did not see the worker, who was distracted by his phone conversation.

SAFETY

The quick-thinking response by three workers of a COR certified company in Kelowna is credited with saving a young worker from serious injury or death.

On October 31st, three employees of Kirkmichael Enterprises Ltd., dba McNiven Masonry, were on the worksite when they saw a worker leave the office trailer, talking on his cell phone with his back to a sewage disposal truck that was backing up onto the site. The truck’s backup alarm was not working at the time. The driver’s view was obstructed and he did not see the worker, who was distracted by his phone conversation.

The McNiven employees attempted to warn the driver but the truck continued to back up and struck the worker, knocking him against the grating of the truck. At the final moment, the driver heard the shouts of the three men and stopped the truck. The rear wheels were about ten centimetres away from the worker’s head.

The worker was taken to hospital by ambulance but suffered only a lump on the head and three stitches to his elbow as a result of the accident.

Kirkmichael’s owner, Don McNiven, said “From my perspective,a COR certified crew prevented a tragedy because of their heightened safety awareness. The fact is that the actions of three of our workers saved another worker’s life.” John Green, McNiven’s site supervisor said “Because of this ‘near miss’ incident, we have now developed our own cell phone policy. The COR program has given our company the tools to be able to analyze job site hazards and develop good practices to prevent future risk”.

The Certificate of Recognition (COR) is a new safety training program from the CSABC developed in cooperation with WorkSafeBC. The program provides expert, consistent safety training for B.C.’s construction workers, supervisors, and owners, and allows construction companies (WorkSafeBC classification 72) to earn a 5% rebate on its WorkSafeBC base assessments and up to $450 plus GST in course cost reimbursements.