Workplace safety and the Vancouver Olympics

Whenever it trotted out one of its Sustainability Reports (produced in-house, not independently), Vancouver's Olympic organizing committee boasted about its commitment to worker safety.

Its record was far from spotless. One cannot expect such a big event as an Olympic Games to be built, staged and dismantled without incident. It's just that VANOC always did a lousy job of owning up to mistakes when challenged by reporters. To err is human. To deny, delay, defer and distract is VANOC.

I learned that on Sept. 20, 2010, WorkSafeBC levied a $75,000 fine for putting workers in danger on March 24, 2010 at the Cypress Mountain temporary snowboard stadium. Workers dismantling the structure had no suitable ladders, so they had to scale poles and use the rosette connector rings as footholds. No injuries were reported, but it was enough for an inspector to recommend a category A fine. See the report below.

VANOC fined $75,000 by WorkSafeBC

VANOC distanced itself from any incidents involving other parties on projects it was not directly controlling. One of those was the Feb. 15, 2010 barrier collapse at City of Vancouver's LiveCity Yaletown in David Lam Park moments after Alexisonfire arrived on stage. One person was seriously injured.

Another happened in 2006 when a B.C. Place Stadium janitor with contractor Modern Cleaners collapsed on the job in the future Olympic stadium. She was taken to hospital where she later died. B.C. Place management did not do their duty to inform WorkSafeBC.

At least two notable deaths occurred in the lead-up to the Games on two important construction projects that were necessary to host the world.

WorkSafeBC fined Murrin Construction $216,000 after 45-year-old blaster Gary Michael Greer died during the construction of the Callaghan Valley road on June 12, 2006. Greer may have been impaired when he used improvised equipment.

Andy Slobodian, a 22-year-old apprentice, died when the overloaded mobile crane he operated toppled on the Canada Line's bridge over the Fraser River on Jan. 21, 2008. Slobodian had only 20 to 90 minutes of training. SNC-Lavalin Constructors (Pacific) and Rizzani de Eccher -- the partners in RSL Joint Venture -- were fined $233,535.58. SNC got an additional $81,808.13 fine.

Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died Feb. 12, 2010 at the Whistler Sliding Centre on a training run, but he was an athlete, not a worker.

Were you a VANOC employee or contractor who suffered a job-related injury or illness? Did you witness an incident? Contact bob.mackin@sunmedia.ca.

VANOC and feds sing from same choirbook on B.C. Place scandal

Hot potatoes. People in power with governments and government-funded agencies avoid them. Unless they're fried, dipped in gravy and cheese and called poutine.

Take the damning WorkSafeBC report that charged B.C. Pavilion Corporation with violating the British Columbia Workers' Compensation Act. An April 9 inspector's report found B.C. Place Stadium -- the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics' opening and closing ceremonies -- to be an unsafe workplace because the roof control workers are not properly trained.

I sought an interview with VANOC CEO John Furlong on April 28. B.C. Place, it can be argued, is the most important Games' venue because of the ceremonies. The ceremonies are traditionally the most-viewed event of the Olympics by the worldwide TV audience. If WorkSafeBC says it's an unsafe workplace for those employed by PavCo, then there are also safety implications for VANOC personnel that frequent the stadium.

More than a day later, I received this statement credited to VANOC vice-president of communications Renee Smith-Valade:

"VANOC has every confidence that B.C. Place will serve as a safe, extraordinary venue leading up to and during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and Nightly Victory ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Games. Questions around day-to-day operations and facility management should be directed to BC Place management team."

On May 1, I also sought an interview with federal Secretary of State for Sport Gary Lunn and/or Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore. The federal government is investing $20 million of tax dollars in the opening ceremony. Shouldn't Lunn and Moore be concerned if a workplace accident or illness occurs before or -- gasp! -- during the Olympics? What if the roof rips and collapses again, just like Jan. 5, 2007?

On May 3, Lunn's press secretary Michelle Yao emailed this quote from Lunn:

"The Government of Canada is confident that B.C. Place will serve as a safe venue for the successful delivery of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and Nightly Victory ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Games."

Yao added: For specific comment on WorkSafeBC's management and operations, please refer to the B.C. Place management team.

There you have it. VANOC and the federal government. Singing from the same choirbook. Praying nothing goes wrong at the Blunderdome.