A worker has died in a fall at Neptune Bulk Terminals on the North Vancouver waterfront.
WorkSafeBC and the B.C. Coroners Service are now investigating the incident, which happened early Wednesday morning.
According to Neptune president James Belsheim, the man was working on the coal and potash terminal’s ship loader around 7:45 a.m. when he fell. The victim was an experienced iron worker employed by North Vancouver-based contractor Termel Industries Ltd. He was taken to Lions Gate Hospital but didn’t survive his injuries, according to the B.C. Coroners Service.
“We are deeply saddened by the incident. Our primary concern is for family, friends and colleagues of the individual as well as the employees of Neptune and contractors who have been affected by the tragic accident,” Belsheim said.
The coroner has not yet identified the man but confirmed he was in his 60s.
The company is offering counselling support to staff and contractors, who are in shock, Belsheim said.
“We believe that’s a very important part,” he said. “They’re a very concerned and positive group, so that’s the reaction you’d respect.”
Belsheim couldn’t comment on whether the man was wearing a harness at the time.
“The details are still limited. We’re conducting an active investigation with Termel and WorkSafeBC,” he said.
Belsheim said he could not remember any other fatalities at Neptune in his time there.
Determining the exact cause of death is now up to the coroner while WorkSafeBC will investigate the workplace accident.
“We know that there won’t be any criminal proceedings because the RCMP has handed it over to us and we’ll be looking for cause and prevention,” said Trish Knight Chernecki, WorkSafeBC spokeswoman.
“Absolutely, any situation we go in, we’re in there with a blank slate and start from scratch to find out what occurred and how it occurred and how it could be prevented in the future.”
A preliminary report determining if there are any immediate safety hazards or violations should be ready within a week, Knight Chernecki said.
