BC company fined $16K after scuba diver death

A BC company has been fined $16,000 after a worker died during a scuba diving operation.

According to a recently published April 30 WorkSafeBC decision, the scuba diver was trying to recover a sunken boat when they experienced a medical event and died.

The decision says the scuba diver was working for Central Coast Marine Services at the time of the incident but doesn't specify when it took place.

The company was preparing to build a wharf at the remote fishing lodge, Duncanby Landing, about 400 kilometres north of Vancouver.

READ MORE: WorkSafeBC investigation into fatal Kelowna crane collapse complete

The decision says the scuba diver attached a recovery line to the sunken boat and then experienced a medical event and died. The decision doesn't give details of what the medical event was.

"WorkSafeBC's investigation determined that the firm had not provided adequate diving supervision or a standby diver as required for an occupational dive, and had not confirmed the medical certification of the worker," the decision reads. "In addition, the firm had not conducted a risk assessment for the recovery work and had not put adequate safe work procedures in place."

WorkSafeBC says the company failed to ensure the health and safety of its workers and fined the firm $15,887.

READ MORE: Kelowna orchard fined $40,000 for not having a seatbelt on a tractor

No other details are given in the decision.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.