Date of incident: December 2021
Notice of incident number: 2021179460071
Employer: Tree planting company

Incident summary
At an industrial construction site, two workers were assisting a supervisor with the construction of an extension to a building. A large wooden beam was being placed on two support posts using a skid steer equipped with a fork attachment. The beam slid off the support posts and struck one of the workers, who sustained serious injuries.

Investigation conclusions

Cause

• Unsecured beam struck worker standing in hazardous area. While in an active construction zone, the worker walked into a hazardous area when it was unsafe to do so. The beam was being held in place by the forks of the skid steer and was not secured, and it fell from its supports and struck the worker.

Contributing factors

• Lack of supervision. The employer failed to take corrective action after a worker entered a hazardous area on previous occasions. In addition, the employer did not ensure that the two workers assisting at the site that day were trained and instructed to perform the construction work safely.
• Inadequate planning. The employer did not adequately identify the hazards and conduct a risk assessment to control the hazards for the construction of the building extension.
• Lack of training and experience. The employer did not ensure that the workers were trained for the work they were performing on the day of the incident.

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