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Quadruple confined space death on barge attracts heavy fine
Westminster Marine Services Ltd of Vancouver has been fined $130,500 following a fatal confined space incident 2 years ago which claimed the lives of 4 workers and left 2 others injured.
The barge Sea Link Rigger was moored at New Westminster on British Columbia's Fraser River and it was understood that on the day of the incident only external work had been scheduled, it is thought that one of the victims had decided to inspect for water but the extent of rust on the hull had accounted for much of the oxygen in the confined space.
One of the firefighters who attended the incident had to be rescued himself, having had to divest himself of his breathing apparatus to negotiate the narrow aperture.
Investigators pronounced themselves critical of the failure to test the air prior to entry, the lack of mechanical ventilation in the space and the lack of a rescue plan, the company is to implement a programme of staff training, rescue procedures and enhanced risk assessment.
