Ensure approved life jackets are available, and that all employees wear them at all times when working on the water.
A ship’s captain with over 10 years experience was contracted to repair equipment on a salmon cage site. This was done aside from his primary employment, on what would be normal days off. The contracting employer met with him before he left the dock. He was next seen working on the equipment by a crew on a cage site nearby. He was seen leaving, but it was not noted if he was wearing a life jacket. Later that day when his vehicle was still on the dock and he had not been seen, the alert was sounded for a missing person. The body was found more than two months later, without a life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD).
WorkSafeNB’s investigation revealed the following:
Reprinted February 2011