VANCOUVER – Two companies and three individuals pleaded guilty Friday to failing to ensure the health and safety regulations in connection with a 2008 incident at a mushroom farm in Langley, B.C., which saw three people killed and two others suffer brain damage.
The companies, A-1 Mushroom Substratum Ltd. and H.V. Troung Ltd., along with three supervisors, will be sentenced Sept. 16 at the Surrey Provincial Court.
All pleaded guilty to four counts of contravening Workers Compensation Board health and safety regulations.
The maximum penalty for the offences is a fine of $619,271 for a first offence and six months in jail.
The non-criminal charges were laid last August after a 20-month investigation by WorkSafeBC into what went wrong at a mushroom-composting facility in Langley.
Ut Tran, Jimmy Chan and Ham Pham died in the September 2008 incident after they were overcome by gas in an enclosed space at the facility.
Their colleagues, Michael Phan and Thang Tchen, suffered irreversible brain damage after breathing in hydrogen sulphide and ammonia.
Ha Qua Truong, Vy Tri Truong, Van Thi Truong and Thinh Huu Doan were also charged.
Three of the individuals pleaded guilty Friday, while charges were stayed by the Crown against Vy Truong.
nhall@vancouversun.com
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