Date of incident: October 2023
Notice of incident number: 2023179460030
Employer: Owner of fishing vessel

Incident summary
Two workers harvesting sea cucumbers were aboard a fishing vessel. In preparation for a dive, the deckhand threw an air hose for the breathing apparatus being used by the diver into the water along with a line used to bring bags of sea cucumbers to the surface. As the diver jumped into the water, the air hose and line became entangled with the turning shaft and propeller, and the diver was drawn into the propeller. The diver was unable to make it back to the surface and drowned.

Investigation conclusions

Cause

• Transmission slipped into gear, entangling hoses in propellor. As the diver entered the water, the fishing vessel’s transmission unexpectedly shifted into gear, causing the shaft and propellor to begin rotating. This entangled the air hose and line, which pulled the diver into the propeller. The diver was unable to free himself from the entanglement.

Contributing factors

• Mechanical failure not addressed. A fault with the fishing vessel’s transmission caused it to slip into gear, which had happened several times previously, including in the days before the incident. Had the engine not been running, the shaft and propeller would not have been a hazard.
• No control of diver’s air hose. The air hose was not well controlled when the diver entered the water. Had the air hose been better controlled, it would likely not have gotten caught in the turning shaft and propeller.
• Safe diving procedures not followed. There were no safe diving procedures for the diver or the deckhand to follow. Emergency procedures were not practised, nor was there a list of emergency contacts and facilities for diving operations. The deckhand had not been provided training as a tender (the surface member of the diving team) or in first aid or diving emergency response.
• Not certified for surface supply operations. At the time of the incident the diver was diving using surface supply, but neither the diver nor the deckhand had been certified or trained for surface supply diving operations.
• Non-compliant diving operations. The investigation determined that the fishing vessel and associated diving equipment did not comply with many of the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation for diving operations. There were no acceptable occupational diving tables or diving logs on the vessel, and the Regulation at a minimum requires a crew of three for the work that was being done at the time of the incident.

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