All seven workers on site escaped injury when a large construction crane fell down across the Midtown condominiums and an adjacent car wash in downtown Sechelt last Friday (July 4).
"While we need to wait until the official report comes in, my understanding is that a gust of wind caused the crane to tip over," said project manager Chris Moore of the Sunshine Coast Property Development Corporation (SCPDC), that is building Midtown. "We are thankful that no one was injured."
The accident took place just after noon at the 24-unit Midtown housing development on Inlet Avenue. The crane was lifting a 12 metre by five metre module - a shell of the whole unit that includes floor, walls and windows - into place, as it had done 18 times previously during construction. The crane, operated by general contractor Knighco, had been on site since March 2008. Moore said the crash caused "some damage to Midtown" as well as undisclosed damage to the Splash 'n' Shine Car Wash, the next building north. Moore said it appears construction insurance will cover the cost of the damage to both buildings.
Jolene Porter, who owns the car wash along with her husband, said no one was inside the car wash when the crane came down, but a customer had moved their car just two minutes before the crane crash brought construction debris hurtling down on that parking spot. The work has seemed precarious over the last few months, she added.
"The accident that occurred was not a surprise to us," she said. "It was a very unfortunate incident, and we're very thankful someone wasn't seriously hurt. It was too close for comfort."
Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living (SCACL) employee Lorna McBride works next to the Midtown development, and said it sounded "like a dumpster being dropped" when the crane fell.
Sunshine Coast RCMP, who were already on scene at a hazardous materials evacuation just blocks away at the Sundance Trailer Park, responded to the call at 12:45 p.m. While Sgt. Stuart Falebrinza said the impact of the crane, its arm and its cargo caused "significant property damage," the financial amount is yet to be determined. No charges are expected to be laid, he said, since the accident is a "non-police issue."
SCPDC met with a Worksafe B.C. later on Friday afternoon to commence the investigation. Worksafe spokesperson Donna Freeman said if they find evidence of non-compliance with health and safety laws, an order to take action to fix the issue would be issued. The report should take about two weeks to complete, she said.
The Midtown building will be home to four assisted-living units being built for SCACL under the District of Sechelt's affordable housing policy, in exchange for waiving some of the building's development cost charges. Seven other units in the building are sale-restricted to help provide affordable housing. While SCACL executive director Glen McClughan deferred comments on the incident to Moore, he said he was relieved no one was injured.
Moore said the expected lost time is difficult to estimate due to the availability of a replacement for the crane but said, "We're hopeful we can contain it to no more than one month."
