A young Oliver father was struck and killed by a load of oriented strand board (OSB) sheets that accidentally fell from a forklift last Thursday morning.
The worksite is Osoyoos Cottages on the Lake, a recreational property development on the north end of Osoyoos Lake. The employer of the worker is Stelkia Construction.
WorkSafeBC was notified about the accident early Thursday afternoon and several investigators attended the work site and the investigation continues, said a WorkSafe BC spokesperson.
The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of the deceased as Sheldon Skolos, aged 27, from Oliver. Skolos had been assisting a forklift operator in transporting construction materials when the incident occurred.
Emergency personnel attended the scene of the incident and Skolos was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The BC Coroners Service and WorkSafe BC continue to investigate this death.
Skolos’s family were notified about his death shortly after emergency personnel arrived on the scene.
The BC Coroners Service expressed its condolences to the family and friends of Skolos.WorkSafe BC Investigators will be looking at all of the workplace factors that may have contributed to this incident, such as, but not limited to, worker training and supervision, the condition and maintenance of equipment, training for use of equipment and for working in the area of mobile equipment, said Megan Johnston, a media and communications officer with WorkSafe BC.
It’s important to understand what contributed to this tragedy so that we can prevent similar accidents from happening in future, she said.
WorkSafeBC won’t be making any more public statements about this incident until a complete and thorough investigation has been completed over the next several weeks, she said.
Yellow caution tape was used to cordon off the accident scene metres from the main entrance to the Osoyoos Cottages on the Lake development late Thursday afternoon.
Once the area had been cordoned off, other contractors working on the large work site were allowed to continue dropping off supplies.
More than 30 homes have already been sold at the Osoyoos on the Lake development. More than 300 homes are scheduled to be built at this site in the next 10 years.
Four model homes were erected last summer and several more have been completed over the past few months.
Stelkia Construction is one of many sub-contracting companies that has employees working  on this project.
Osoyoos RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Kevin Schur said officers were called to the scene and quickly turned the investigation over to WorkSafe BC staff after confirming there was no criminal wrongdoing in relation to this incident.