October 17, 2012

Worker dies after collapse at residential worksite

WorkSafeBC is investigating the cause of a retaining wall collapse at a residential construction site in North Burnaby, which killed one worker and injured another last week.

“The worksite was located next to a residential property in a lane way,” said WorkSafeBC spokesperson Megan Johnston.

“The workers were laying pipe in a trench, when a retaining wall fell on top of them. It was a concrete retaining wall that was about five feet high and 40 feet long, which ran the length of the property.”

The incident happened at about 11 a.m. on Oct. 11.

The two male workers were taken immediately to Vancouver General Hospital, where one of them succumbed to his injures.

Both of the workers were employed by J Cote & Son Excavating Ltd.

The B.C. Coroners Service identified the deceased man as Jeffrey Caron, aged 28, from Calgary, Alberta.

Fatal and serious incident officers from WorkSafeBC and the BC Coroners Service continue to investigate.

The preliminary investigation shows that there appeared to be no footing on the concrete retaining wall and it was also top heavy.

JOC NEWS SERVICE

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