Executive Summary
- WorkSafeBC fined EllisDon Corp. and Newway Concrete Forming over $1.3 million total.
- Yuridia Flores was killed in Feb. 2024 when a load fell 26 storeys at Vancouver's Oakridge Park.
- Violations included inadequate ground exclusion zones and failure to identify critical lifts.
- EllisDon also faced penalties for two other non-fatal crane incidents in 2025.
WorkSafeBC has issued fines exceeding $1.3 million against EllisDon Corp. and Newway Concrete Forming following an investigation into multiple crane accidents, including a fatality at the Oakridge Park development in Vancouver. The penalties address safety violations linked to the death of a worker in February 2024 and other safety lapses at construction sites managed by the prime contractor.
According to the provincial safety agency, Yuridia Flores was killed when a large wooden mould, measuring nearly 10 meters in length, fell 26 storeys from a crane while being moved between floors. Investigators determined that the load accelerated out of the side of the building during the maneuver, falling to the ground and striking the victim.
EllisDon Corp. was issued a penalty of approximately $515,000 related to the fatal incident. Additionally, the company faces fines totaling $689,000 for two separate crane accidents that occurred in Vancouver and Victoria earlier this year, neither of which resulted in serious injuries. Newway Concrete Forming received a $113,000 penalty for its involvement in the Oakridge tragedy.
WorkSafeBC's report cited several "high-risk violations" by the companies involved. The agency stated that EllisDon failed to establish adequate ground exclusion zones under suspended loads and did not conduct regular reviews of subcontractor safety procedures. Furthermore, the lift on the day of the incident was not identified as a "critical lift," leading to a lack of necessary risk assessment.
Newway Concrete was cited for deficiencies in training and communication regarding ground control zones. The agency found that the company lacked specific instructions for moving the mould and failed to ensure the equipment used was capable of performing the required functions. WorkSafeBC previously noted that the victim was standing in an area where she should not have been permitted at the time of the accident.
Regulatory Oversight and Industry Standards
The imposition of these significant fines underscores the rigorous enforcement of safety protocols in the high-rise construction sector. This regulatory action highlights the absolute liability of prime contractors to manage subcontractor adherence to safety plans, particularly regarding exclusion zones during overhead lifting operations. As urban development relies heavily on complex crane logistics, these penalties serve as a reinforcement of the necessity for strict compliance with occupational health and safety regulations to mitigate life-threatening risks on job sites.
