Fatal fishing accident caused by hydraulic boom, says PEI Workers Compensation Board

The unexpected lowering of a hydraulic boom was the cause of the accident that killed a Prince Edward Island man in a fishing accident earlier this month, the Workers Compensation Board says.

The accident, which occurred on June 19, is being investigated by the WCB’s Occupational Safety and Health Department.

The committee said the man was fishing for lobsters in North Lake in northeast Prince Edward Island.

He was helping another worker on the boat with tangled halyard lines, the WCB said in an email to CBC News. He leaned over the port side of the boat, and while he was in that position, the hydraulic boom he was working under lowered quickly and unexpectedly, striking him.

“The hydraulic boom in question was attached to the stern of the boat,” the email said.

“To prevent further incidents, the boom has been taken out of service and removed until a safe work procedure can be implemented.”

The Federal Office for Transport Safety stated that it would not launch an investigation. It was assumed that an investigation would not provide any new information on safety.