At least one of the 2 occupants was not wearing a seat belt when the UTV went over an embankment
A WorkSafeBC report says a pre-use inspection of a utility terrain vehicle was not done prior to a fatal crash involving a B.C. wildland firefighter – and at least one occupant wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
The report says there was inadequate supervision, a lack of safe work procedures, lack of training and a lack of pre-use inspections.The fatal crash happened in a remote area, near Pink Mountain, as crews were working on the Donnie Creek blaze – the largest wildfire in B.C.'s history at more than 500,000 hectares.
"However, the UTV was unable to stop and it continued over the edge of the steep embankment drop-off," the report states. The vehicles would be used to transport crews and equipment in areas of the fire complex"where the terrain and pipeline crossings prevented conventional motor vehicles from travelling." The specific vehicle, prior to the crash, was in"good mechanical condition."
BC Wildfire Service also did not ensure that a pre-use inspection of the UTV was completed, the report found. It added that a regular inspection"would likely have identified that the passenger-side retention netting clip was damaged" and that the UTV was not being used according to the owner's manual.
"BCWS knowingly allowed workers to operate mobile equipment without the benefit of specific UTV safe work procedures. Had BCWS developed and implemented safe work procedures for the safe use of UTVs, those procedures would likely have included requirements for pre-use inspections, use of seat belts, use of retention netting, and use of safety headgear, as well as processes for correcting deficient items and removing UTVs from service.
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