Service NL
January 24, 2014

Fishing Company Faces OHS Charges in Provincial Court

Service NL announced today that Ocean Choice International Inc. has been charged with violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations in relation to a fatality that occurred in February 2012. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Occupational Health and Safety Branch.

The fatal incident occurred onboard the fishing vessel Katsheshuk II while it was on route from the Funk Island Bank to Bay Roberts. A worker was killed while exiting a shrimp holding tank on the factory deck of the vessel. The deceased had just inspected the tank that had previously been cleaned by another worker.

The company has been charged with eight violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations which relate generally to its failure as an employer to provide a safe workplace and to provide training and supervision. The company has also been charged with failure to ensure that powered equipment has controls positioned to prevent inadvertent activation, to ensure machinery is locked out prior to maintenance being conducted, and to ensure that a worker does not enter a confined space until the worker is qualified to do so, safety precautions are documented, and an attendant is in place.

The first appearance is scheduled for Monday, February 17, at Provincial Court in St. John’s.

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Media contact:

Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Service NL
709-729-4860, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca

2014 01 24                                10:15 a.m.