Update: Worksite death

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

The Oliver worksite.

WorkSafeBC has confirmed a worker was struck and killed by a load of OSB sheets that slid from a forklift on Thursday.

The man has been identified as Sheldon Skolos, 27, from Oliver.

According to the BC Coroners office, Skolos had been assisting a forklift operating in transporting construction materials when the incident occurred.

The work site is The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake in Oliver, a recreational property development on the lake. The employer of the worker is Stelkia Construction.

WorkSafe BC was notified in the early afternoon and officers attended the work site. Their investigation is continuing.

They will be looking at all of the workplace factors that may have contributed to the incident, such as, but not limited to, worker training and supervision, condition and maintenance of equipment, training for use of equipment and for working in the area of mobile equipment.

"It's important to understand what contributed to this tragedy so we can prevent similar accidents from happening in the future," said Megan Johnston, communications officer with WorkSafe BC.

Eric Van Maren, managing partner of The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake, said we are shocked about the accident and our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased person.

"It is a terrible accident and all of our company is traumatized by this," he said.