A Nanaimo pulp mill has been fined over $248,000 after a violation responsible for a worker’s death in March 2016.
According to a WorkSafeBC investigation, Nanaimo Forest Products Ltd. / Harmac Pacific Division failed to conduct a risk assessment or develop safe work procedures for the area where the accident occurred. They are calling the the violation “high-risk.”
Chris Fletcher, 37, was fatally injured after he fell into a hole that had formed in the reclaim area of a wood chip pile. With no means to escape, he was carried through the conveyor system into a chip bin.
The investigation found multiple violations to the location.
The edges of the wood chip pit were not marked as potentially hazardous and the automatically-operated conveyor did not have a method to alert workers if need be.
In addition, the firm did not provide adequate written safety procedures for injury prevention or the necessary information and training to ensure worker health and safety.
The fine presented to Harmac represents the eighth largest levied fine from WorkSafeBC.