BC Ferries has been fined more than $ 600,000 by WorkSafeBC after one of its workers died at work.
In June 2020, an employee was working in the Fleet Maintenance Unit in Richmond when he fell into the water.
WorkSafeBC said the worker leaned over and over a panel of fabric straps and was trying to retrieve an item floating in the water.
The cloth tape broke and the worker fell into the water and drowned.
After an investigation, WorkSafeBC determined that the worker was not wearing any personal flotation devices and that “the fabric panels were not sufficient to control the danger of falling into the water below.”
Read more: A BC Ferries worker dies after falling into the Fraser River
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WorkSafeBC also found that there was no safe work plan developed to recover objects that had fallen into the water.
“The company did not guarantee the health and safety of all workers in its workplace,” WorkSafeBC said.
“The company also did not provide its employees with the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety. These two violations were high risk.”
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BC Ferries was fined $ 674,445.92.
In a statement to Global News. BC Ferries said: “We know this tragedy has been a devastating loss to our family, our co-workers and all our employees. The health and safety of our employees is our number one priority and we have fully cooperated with the police and WorkSafeBC in their investigations “.
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The company said it immediately addressed the areas of concern identified in the WorkSafeBC report and called for a review of the report to better understand the decisions made and where further improvements can be made.
The company said it paid the fine in full.
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