NEW DEMOCRATS APPLAUD DECISION TO CONDUCT CORONER'S INQUEST INTO MUSHROOM FARM DEATHS
VANCOUVER –The decision to conduct an inquest into the 2008 Langley mushroom farm accident is a much needed step in the right direction to spare other workers and their families from a similar tragedy, say New Democrats.
Today, the B.C. Coroner’s service announced that it will hold a public inquest into the deaths of the three workers who died and two who were left permanently and severely brain injured when overcome by noxious fumes at a small pump house at Langley's Farmers Fresh Mushroom Farms. The inquest will examine some of the broader circumstances of the incident in order to help prevent future deaths.
“This is positive news for the families of the victims," said New Democrat Leader Adrian Dix. “For years, New Democrats have joined them in calling for this inquest so lessons can be learned and applied to protect other workers.
“This inquest is the best way to truly find out what went wrong and prevent it from happening again. Previous reports have simply not gone far enough.”
WorkSafe B.C.’s own report into the tragedy showed that, on repeated occasions, the agency failed to enforce health and safety rules or follow up on local municipal concerns that would have stopped the disaster.
“It is the responsibility of WorkSafe to set safety standards and enforcement for workers,” said Raj Chouhan, New Democrat labour critic. “This inquest will provide an arms-length examination into why the agency responsible for ensuring safe workplaces failed to take appropriate actions that would have kept these farmworkers alive and able to support their families.”
"The recommendations that will come out of this will help to create safer working conditions for agricultural workers across B.C."
Today, the B.C. Coroner’s service announced that it will hold a public inquest into the deaths of the three workers who died and two who were left permanently and severely brain injured when overcome by noxious fumes at a small pump house at Langley's Farmers Fresh Mushroom Farms. The inquest will examine some of the broader circumstances of the incident in order to help prevent future deaths.
“This is positive news for the families of the victims," said New Democrat Leader Adrian Dix. “For years, New Democrats have joined them in calling for this inquest so lessons can be learned and applied to protect other workers.
“This inquest is the best way to truly find out what went wrong and prevent it from happening again. Previous reports have simply not gone far enough.”
WorkSafe B.C.’s own report into the tragedy showed that, on repeated occasions, the agency failed to enforce health and safety rules or follow up on local municipal concerns that would have stopped the disaster.
“It is the responsibility of WorkSafe to set safety standards and enforcement for workers,” said Raj Chouhan, New Democrat labour critic. “This inquest will provide an arms-length examination into why the agency responsible for ensuring safe workplaces failed to take appropriate actions that would have kept these farmworkers alive and able to support their families.”
"The recommendations that will come out of this will help to create safer working conditions for agricultural workers across B.C."
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