Shocking video appears to show highrise workers without safety harnesses; OHS investigating

CALGARY – An investigation has been launched after a video was posted to Reddit appearing to show workers clearing snow off a 31-storey building without the proper safety equipment.

In the video, posted on Feb. 3, you can see two workers on the Calgary highrise, but there’s no visible protection harness for either person.

“You can see right by that railing there no they’re not wearing fall protection,” commented Cam Mitchell, President of Kasa Consulting, which assesses health and safety. “Why would you take those risks? It’s totally unnecessary”

Mitchell says these buildings have a responsibility to clear the roofs to prevent ice and greater risk to the public but it needs to be done with safety.

“They’re not wearing fall protection. There is a potential for a fall. They’ve got snow on the roof so there’s potential for ice. So, you’re on top of a building with ice and snow with no regard for your own safety–how can we assume you have any regard for those below?”

Another health and safety service group, which wanted to remain unnamed, said based on the video, the people in red are in contravention of the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code Part 9- Fall Protection.

In a statement to CityNews, the owner of the building, QuadReal Property Group, said it was looking into the video.

“After seeing this video, we immediately launched an investigation which found that the employees were operating within safety guidelines by staying 6 feet from the perimeter of the building and behind railings. We will, however, take this opportunity to refer this to our joint health and safety committee for review,” read the statement from Don Fairgrieve-Park, Executive Vice President, QuadReal Property Group.

“Anytime you’re working at heights you should have your tools properly secured so you don’t create potential hazards,” said Mitchell.

As for the “watch out for falling ice” signs you may have seen on your stroll through downtown, Mitchell says pay attention, because it’s hard to predict where the ice may actually fall.

“If they got that stuff below chances are they’ve mitigated the risk somewhat but the issue is when you’re that high you don’t know where the ice is going where the snow they’re pushing off is going so, first of all, we have a personal safety risk and we have a public safety risk.”

Alberta OHS says it’s looking into the video as well, but won’t be commenting before the inspection is complete.