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Canada's safety regulator has fined a ferry corporation over the death of one of its workers.
On 21 June 2020 a ferry was docked on the Fraser River in Richmond for maintenance. The worker was trying to retrieve an item floating in the water and leaned onto a fabric webbing panel that broke away. He fell into the water and drowned. His body was recovered the next day.
WorkSafeBC launched an investigation and found the worker wasn't wearing a life jacket and the fabric panels were not sufficient to prevent him from falling into the water below.
BC Ferries had not developed safe work procedures to retrieve fallen objects from the water, and it failed to ensure the health and safety of its employees at the worksite.
The firm also failed to provide its workers with the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure their health and safety. These were both high-risk violations.
BC Ferries described the worker's death as 'a devastating loss to the family, our colleague's co-workers and all employees'.
The ferry corporation said it immediately addressed 'areas of concern' after WorkSafeBC issued an inspection report in November 2021.
In a written statement, BC Ferries said it had paid the fine but considering an appeal.
