It has been five years since a deadly accident on a Langley mushroom farm left three men dead, and two men with severe brain injuries.
A coroner’s inquest was held into the incident last year and even though 15 recommendations were made in order to prevent a tragedy like this happening again, the B.C. Federation of Labour says not enough is being done.
“Yes there have been some minor improvements,” said Labour leader, Jim Sinclair. “There are more inspectors out there, and I think what’s really changed is public consciousness. We’re aware and everybody’s aware that these fields are dangerous, and they want actions to be taken.”
“Unfortunately, the majority of the recommendation of the inquest into the deaths of these three workers and the complete destruction of the other two people’s lives with brain damage, we’re still waiting for those other recommendations to be implemented,” he added.
It was September of 2008 when two men were overcome by noxious fumes working inside a pump shed for the farm’s composting facility. Three others went into the confined space to render assistance but they were too overcome.
Sinclair said, in his opinion, two key recommendations need to be implemented as soon as possible.
“One being that every single supervisor, farm worker, manager, needs to get at least a minimum of two days training before they head out to work in those fields,” he said. “These accidents that killed these workers and injured them so badly were all avoidable, completely preventable. And the second recommendation that stands out to me, is that every single employer that operates in B.C., should sign a declaration each year that they are in compliance with health and safety – they’re doing the proper training, and they have their committees.”
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