VANCOUVER — A total of over $1.3 million in fines has been imposed on two companies following a series of crane accidents in British Columbia, including a tragic incident at Oakridge Park development in Vancouver where a worker lost her life. The incident occurred in February 2024 when Yuridia Flores was killed by material that fell from a height of 26 storeys. Flores was struck by a large mould measuring 9.6 metres long and six metres wide, which was being hoisted between floors during construction operations.
WorkSafeBC has levied significant fines against the involved companies: EllisDon Corp., which was fined approximately $515,000, and Newway Concrete Forming, which received a penalty of $113,000 due to their roles in the incident. Furthermore, EllisDon was penalized an additional $689,000 related to two other crane accidents that occurred in 2025, one in Vancouver in April and another in Victoria in June. Fortunately, there were no severe injuries reported from these latter accidents.
The investigation by WorkSafeBC revealed critical safety violations associated with the Oakridge accident. The agency disclosed that the mould being lifted accelerated out of the side of the building due to external pushing forces, leading to it falling and causing Flores' death. At the time of the incident, EllisDon was the prime contractor responsible for safety protocols at the high-rise construction site, while Newway Concrete Forming was tasked with providing the concrete formwork service.
WorkSafeBC outlined a series of “high-risk violations” of work site safety regulations committed by both companies. EllisDon was specifically cited for not maintaining an adequate “ground exclusion zone” beneath lifted loads and failing to conduct regular reviews of subcontractors’ safety procedures. Their failure to identify the lift as a critical operation on the day of the incident also contributed to the accident, underscoring the company’s lack of oversight in implementing necessary safety practices.
According to the findings, EllisDon neglected to ensure regular inspections to avert unsafe conditions and did not adequately plan their workplace to protect workers from potential hazards. On the other hand, Newway Concrete Forming was found to have serious deficiencies in training and communication regarding control zones for ground control workers. Their operational procedures were deemed insufficient, particularly for the handling of flying corner tables, and they failed to conduct necessary risk assessments and inspections prior to the lift.
In-depth examination of Newway Concrete's operations highlighted the absence of detailed step-by-step instructions for the movement of the mould and questions were raised regarding the adequacy of the equipment used for lifting operations. Additionally, earlier statements from WorkSafeBC indicated that Flores should not have been positioned in the area where she was working at the time of the fatal incident.
The provincial safety agency identified EllisDon’s inadequate lift plan as a contributing factor for both of its crane-related incidents in 2025. One notable case included an event where a load fell due to a rigging failure caused by a sharp edge on a loaded canopy cutting through the sling, leading to the load dropping several floors.
These accidents and the resulting fines illustrate the critical importance of adhering to safety regulations and maintaining rigorous training and oversight procedures in construction environments, particularly in endeavors involving heavy machinery and high-risk operations.
