Deaths of two lumberyard workers spark multiple probes
Two workers killed at a lumberyard in New Westminster on Saturday were apparently crushed by lumber that fell on them, according to WorkSafe B.C.
The deaths of two employees of the Pacific Reload lumberyard are being investigated by police, the B.C. Coroners Service and WorkSafe B.C., the province’s chief workplace safety agency.
The victims haven’t been identified. They were found dead at the lumberyard, in the Queensborough area of New Westminster adjacent to the Fraser River, on Saturday just before 1 p.m.
“We do know that two workers were killed. We also know at this point this was an unwitnessed incident. Others found these two workers under lumber that apparently fell on top of them,” WorkSafe B.C. spokesman Scott McCloy said Sunday.
“It’s just tragic. It’s just the kind of stuff you dread,” said McCloy.
He said a forklift driver phoned New Westminster Police just before 1 p.m. Police notified WorkSafe B.C. that there had been industrial fatalities.
Police had control of the scene until 7 p.m. on Saturday, at which time WorkSafe B.C. took control, said McCloy.
WorkSafe B.C.’s fatal and serious incident team is investigating.
New Westminster Police spokesman Sgt. Jeff Scott said detectives are investigating what he described as a very sad and tragic situation.
Both the police and coroner’s office said names of the deceased workers were not being released yet. According to the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce website, the Pacific Reload site loads lumber into containers for export overseas.
WorkSafe B.C. said the site is owned by United Gateway Logistics, whose directors listed with the province’s corporate registry are the same as those for Pacific Reload.
The directors of the company couldn’t be reached Sunday.
There have been major efforts by the province, industry, unions and WorkSafe B.C. to reduce fatalities in the forest sector, which spiked to more than 40 in 2005.
The numbers of fatalities — which have included fallers, logging truck drivers and millworkers — have come down since then.
There were seven deaths in 2014 and 10 in 2013.