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WorkSafeBC investigates agricultural fatalities
Richmond, B.C., September 8, 2008 — On Friday, September 5th, an incident at an agricultural worksite in Langley claimed the lives of three workers and injured three others. Emergency responders — ambulance, paramedics, and fire department personnel who attended, recognized the potential of a confined space hazard and donned respirators and other personal protective equipment.
“This is terrible incident claiming multiple lives, as confined space incidents can do. It is a very human instinct to go to the aid of a co-worker in distress,” said Roberta Ellis, Vice President of Investigations. “We understand the high level of public interest in the details of this tragedy; however, while officers are conducting the investigation, we will not be commenting further on the specifics of the evidence gathered.”
Status of the investigation
WorkSafeBC officers also responded on the night of the event and in cooperation with the RCMP took control of the site. The investigation team includes two senior investigators, two technical experts, and a professional engineer. The site will remain closed until officers determine it is safe for workers to return. This will be reviewed on a daily basis. Portions of the site are still considered to be dangerous and WorkSafeBC is working closely with the Ministry of the Environment.
This was a confined space incident. Investigators are interviewing employers, co-workers, witnesses and other relevant parties. In an investigation a broad range of factors must be considered, such as mechanical issues, human factors, air, chemical and substance sampling as well as other matters. In addition, investigating officers liaise closely with the Coroner’s Office.
In some investigations, WorkSafeBC may share jurisdiction with other regulatory bodies. In this case, WorkSafeBC has occupational health and safety investigational jurisdiction.
There are three employers operating at this worksite: Farmers' Fresh Mushrooms Inc.: H. V. Truong Ltd.: A-1 Mushroom Substratum Ltd.
Background:
- The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHS) defines a confined space as follows:
"confined space", except as otherwise determined by the Board, means an area, other than an underground working, that
(a) is enclosed or partially enclosed,
(b) is not designed or intended for continuous human occupancy,
(c) has limited or restricted means for entry or exit that may complicate the provision of first aid, evacuation, rescue or other emergency response service, and
(d) is large enough and so configured that a worker could enter to perform assigned work.
Confined spaces may contain hazardous air contaminants that may be colourless, odourless gases that can only be detected with testing. Sometimes inert gases (such as nitrogen) displace oxygen so that the confined space is oxygen-deficient. Lack of oxygen can cause brain damage or heart failure in minutes.
- Other hazards of confined spaces are flammable gases or vapours that can ignite, causing an explosion or fire.
- Health and safety regulations, including confined space standards, apply to agricultural employers and workers as they do to all employers and workers in British Columbia.
WorkSafeBC investigations:
The purpose of a WorkSafeBC investigation is to: determine cause; determine compliance or non-compliance with occupational health and safety laws and regulations; and determine how to prevent a similar incident in the future.
Upon the completion of any investigation, the investigating officer will determine whether administrative penalties or referral for prosecution is warranted.
An investigation is a legal process and the parties have legal rights throughout the course of the investigation and rights to review and appeal any orders written and/or penalties imposed. The families of deceased workers and injured workers have privacy rights under Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation.
Inspection history
WorkSafeBC inspected this worksite in May 2007 following an odour complaint. The pump-house and containment area did not exist at the time of the inspection.
| Subsector 7010 - Agriculture Prevention Document Counts |
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Prevention Count |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
Jul |
Inspection Reports |
541 |
370 |
442 |
279 |
156 |
158 |
169 |
242 |
805 |
336 |
Consultation Records |
98 |
111 |
143 |
143 |
129 |
137 |
115 |
92 |
74 |
34 |
Education Reports |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
16 |
9 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
Notice of Incidents |
2 |
4 |
6 |
16 |
19 |
17 |
8 |
17 |
17 |
10 |
Warning Letters |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
16 |
1 |
Penalties Imposed |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orders |
940 |
505 |
439 |
334 |
162 |
200 |
166 |
303 |
1398 |
325 |
WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves nearly two million workers and about 197,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born out of a compromise between B.C.’s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. The organization is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits.
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For more information, contact: |
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| Donna Freeman, Manager, |
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