This page contains a list of recent serious accidents that have taken place at a tourism or hospitality operation. These are summaries of Notice of Incident reports received by WorkSafeBC.
This information should help you identify potential risks at your operation, thus protecting your workers from similar accidents in the workplace.
Last updated: August 18, 2011
Injury Type: Undetermined injuries to chest
Core Activity:Ski hill operation
Location: Vancouver Island
Date of Accident: 2010-Dec
A worker was caught in an avalanche.
Injury Type: Fatal
Core Activity: Hotel
Location: Vancouver Island
Date of Accident: 2010-Dec
A worker fell down a flight of stairs and later died from the
injuries.
Injury Type: Violence in the workplace (3 workers)
Core Activity: Fast food outlet
Location: Northern BC
Date of Accident: 2010-Dec
Three workers were held hostage during a robbery.
Injury Type: Electric shock causing serious injuries
Core Activity: Cleaning
Location: Central Interior
Date of Incident: 2010-Jul
A worker performing housekeeping duties in a newly constructed suite contacted an exposed energized 120-volt wire.
Injury Type: Electric shock, loss of consciousness
Core Activity: Window cleaning
Location: Vancouver Island
Date of Incident: 2010-Jul
A worker was standing on wet lawn while using an aluminum pole to wash windows on the third floor of a hotel. The pole was extended to 32 feet. The worker was moving from one set of windows to the next, holding the pole upright. The pole contacted a 120-volt street-light power line 22 feet above grade.
Injury Type: Crush injuries to fingers
Core Activity: Pizza restaurant
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2010-Jun
A young worker's fingers were crushed as he operated a dough press.
Injury Type: Head laceration, bruises
Core Activity: Pub, bar, night club, or lounge
Location: Vancouver Island
Date of Incident: 2010-May
A worker was on a 10-foot stepladder, installing an exterior sign. The ladder was on the extreme edge of a curb, and the worker was on the 8-foot level of the stepladder, when the worker fell to the concrete sidewalk.
Injury Type: Undetermined injuries to head, neck
Core Activity: Restaurant
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2010-Apr
A worker stacking boxes in a restaurant's walk-in freezer slipped and fell backwards. The worker's head struck the concrete floor.
Injury Type: Concussion
Core Activity: Amusement park
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2010-Apr
A young worker (passenger) fell out of a golf cart when the driver made a sharp left-hand turn. The worker's head struck the pavement.
Injury Type: Fractured leg
Core Activity: Ski hill operation
Location: Central Interior
Date of Incident: 2010-Mar
While demonstrating an exercise during a ski lesson, a ski instructor lost control and slid into a tree.
Injury Type: Serious burns
Core Activity: Restaurant
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2010-Mar
A worker was burned when a building exploded into flames.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Ski hill
Location: Central Interior
Date of Incident: 2010-Feb
An explosive charge detonation resulted in a remote cornice failure that caused an avalanche. The small avalanche stopped 50 metres upslope from the position of 6 avalanche safety workers.
Injury Type: Violence in the workplace
Core Activity: Hotel
Location: Vancouver Island
Date of Incident: 2010-Feb
A person produced a knife while attempting to rob a hotel. Two non-workers disarmed the suspect and held him until police arrived.
Injury Type: Fractured spine
Core Activity: Ski hill operation
Location: Vancouver Island
Date of Incident: 2010-Feb
A young worker fell while snowboarding to the base of a ski hill at the end of the work shift.
Injury Type: Bruising and abrasions
Core Activity: Food delivery
Location: Central Interior
Date of Incident: 2010-Feb
A worker was sent to deliver pizza to a residential address. Upon arrival at the address, the driver was threatened at gunpoint, tied up, and robbed of cash. The driver was located by a co-worker after the store manager noted that the driver had not checked in.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Resort operation
Location: Vancouver Island
Date of Incident: 2010-Jan
A maintenance worker inadvertently added 1 to 2 litres of hydrochloric acid (30-33 percent w/w) to 4 to 5 litres of sodium hypochlorite (10.8 percent w/w) in a 250-litre container. The resulting chlorine gas caused evacuation of the pool area, an emergency response by the fire department, and attendance by the region's hazardous materials response team.
