The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses estimates the outage cost small companies about $36-million and has called for both compensation and an independent review. Construction unions want criminal charges laid in the workplace death of young crane operator Andy Slobodian. A highly critical WorkSafe BC report this week found that Mr. Slobodian, 22, had received fewer than 1.5 hours of training before being allowed to operate a small crane on a bridge being built across the Fraser River for the Canada Line to the airport. The report blasted his employer, RSL Joint Venture, for his lack of training. Mr. Slobodian was crushed to death when the crane tipped over.
"I hope and expect that there will be charges under provisions of the Criminal Code. Otherwise, how can we expect contractors to wake up to their responsibility?" B.C. Building Trades Council head Wayne Peppard said yesterday.