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Company fined in worker deaths

Brinkman and Associates Reforestation Ltd. of Bella Bella was fined more than $2,500 by WorkSafeBC for an incident that claimed the lives of two of its workers.

Brinkman and Associates Reforestation Ltd. of Bella Bella was fined more than $2,500 by WorkSafeBC for an incident that claimed the lives of two of its workers.

Seven of the company’s workers were travelling by marine vessel Oct. 30, 2008 to a remote logging site when the vessel took on water.

A trio of the workers jumped into the water without personal flotation devices or life jackets.

The cold water and high waves presented a high risk of drowning.

One worker managed to climb back on board, but the other two workers drowned.

The firm failed to ensure the marine vessel was inspected both before initial use and at appropriate intervals to ensure its seaworthiness for the safe transport of workers.

It did not ensure that the vessel was equipped with all the required life-saving equipment.

Repairs were needed throughout the vessel, and seriously damaged equipment ultimately allowed seawater to flow onto the deck.

In total, the company was fined $2,593.85.