British ColumbiaWorkSafeBC has issued more than $1.2 million in fines to Ontario-based construction giant EllisDon Corp. for three separate crane-related safety violations, including one at the Oakridge Mall development in Vancouver which saw a worker being killed.Mother of 2 from Mexico was killed in February 2024 following crane safety violation at Oakridge developmentLauren Vanderdeen · CBC News · Posted: Dec 12, 2025 5:42 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Members of the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services walk outside of the Oakridge Mall site on Feb. 21, 2024, the day a worker was killed after a load fell from a crane. Now, the contractors involved in the case have been fined by B.C.’s workplace regulator. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press)WorkSafeBC has issued more than $1.2 million in fines to Ontario-based construction giant EllisDon Corp. for three separate crane-related safety violations, including a fatal one at Vancouver’s Oakridge Mall development in 2024.Prime contractor EllisDon was fined almost $515,000 for the February 2024 incident that killed Yuridia Flores, a mother of two from MexicoConcrete formwork provider Newway Concrete Forming was also fined almost $113,000 in the case, according to a WorkSafeBC bulletin issued Friday.B.C.’s workplace regulator said Newway was using a tower crane to lift a flytable (a pre-assembled structure or mould used to form concrete, often flooring) from one floor to another.But when the rigged flytable was being pushed, the regulator says “it accelerated out of the side of the building and fell to the ground, striking and fatally injuring a worker.”WATCH | Regulator finds ‘several critical safety failures’ behind Oakridge death:’Several critical safety failures’ behind B.C. worker’s death: WorkSafeBCWorkSafeBC released a new report into a fatality at Vancouver’s massive Oakridge Park redevelopment site. Last year, a worker was killed on the job after a tower crane dropped its load. Janella Hamilton has more on the report’s findings.The flytable fell 26 storeys, according to a previous WorkSafeBC report.In its information bulletin, WorkSafeBC described a series of failures and “high-risk violations” by both companies to ensure proper procedures were in place.EllisDon was found to have failed to ensure regular inspections took place, failed to make sure its workplace was maintained to protect workers from danger and failed to ensure lift plans were prepared.Construction workers gather outside of the Oakridge Mall site after a load on a crane fell off, smashing multiple floors of the building on Feb. 21, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press)EllisDon had not conducted regular reviews of subcontractors’ safe work procedures, and did not confirm a risk assessment had been conducted, according to WorkSafeBC’s investigation.“In addition, the exclusion zone on the ground was inadequate and had not been controlled, and procedures and communication for spotters on the ground were inconsistent,” the regulator found.A crane dropped its load onto an under-construction building at Oakridge Centre on Feb. 21, 2024, according to emergency crews. (Gian Paolo Mendoza/CBC)EllisDon said it is reviewing the regulator’s decision in a statement.“We continue to be diligent and are always exploring new and innovative ways to strengthen and enhance our safety program, ensuring that safety remains at the core of everything we do,” said spokesperson Dustin Luchka in the emailed statement.EllisDon is based in Ontario. Its logo is seen here at an under-construction correctional facility in Thunder Bay, Ont. (Celine Marti/CBC)WorkSafeBC said Newway Concrete Forming’s work procedures included multiple safety deficiencies.Those included a lack of training and communication for ground control workers, inadequate procedures for flying corner tables, a lack of risk assessments and a lack of adherence to critical lift requirements.It failed to ensure a written lift plan was prepared for every critical lift, and failed to ensure certain drawings showed step-by-step procedures, according to WorkSafeBC’s bulletin.WATCH | Systemic safety failures alleged at Oakridge site:WorkSafeBC alleges systemic safety failure at Oakridge construction siteWorkSafeBC is accusing the prime contractor of a “systemic failure” to manage safety at the Oakridge construction site. The regulator recently executed a search warrant as it investigates multiple incidents, including a crane dropping its load and scaffolding coming loose. As Jon Hernandez reports, the warrant alleges dozens of safety violations, including one that led to a death earlier this year. The Oakridge project in South Vancouver is a $6.5-billion redevelopment by Westbank and Quadreal of the 11-hectare Oakridge mall.It spans about eight city blocks. The plans include building 14 towers with 3,000 homes, as well as a giant park and hundreds of retail stores.Workers on the Oakridge site reported multiple near-misses involving cranes before the fatality in February 2024.EllisDon fined for two more incidentsWorkSafe also announced it is issuing more than $688,000 to EllisDon for two other tower crane safety violations this year, one in Vancouver in April and the other in Victoria in June.Both involved a “loss of load” with no serious injuries reported.In one case, the load of steel canopy components fell because a sharp edge of a canopy cut the rigging sling.WorkSafeBC said the firm did not review lift plans in either incident.Administrative penalties are fines imposed on employers for health and safety violations of the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, according to WorkSafe.ABOUT THE AUTHORLauren Vanderdeen is a web writer for CBC British Columbia. She formerly worked for community newspapers, including the Burnaby Now and New West Record. You can reach her at lauren.vanderdeen@cbc.ca.With files from Jon Hernandez and Jason Proctor
EllisDon fined more than $1.2M for crane safety violations, including fatal Vancouver case
