BELLINGHAM, Washington (9 August 2007) -- Police identified the diver who died in Tuesday's industrial accident at the BP Cherry Point Refinery as Christopher M. Primeau, 35, of Wallula, near Kennewick. Primeau, a freelance diver employed by Spokane-based Associated Underwater Services Inc., was 130 feet under water examining pilings being installed near the refinery when employees on the surface lost radio contact with him. A second diver found Primeau unconscious near the bottom of a piling and brought him to the surface. Paramedics and BP personnel were unable to revive him. The cause of death remains under investigation. Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Doug Chadwick said it appears that one of the pilings fell over, though it's unclear if that led to Primeau's death. BP spokesman Mike Abendhoff said the company is waiting for findings from the Whatcom County Medical Examiner's Office regarding the cause of death. Abendhoff said Tuesday that Primeau's air-supply line somehow became severed, but later said it was too early to determine what had led to the death. The federal arm of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration office also is investigating the incident, since it happened offshore, said Joy Flack, director of OSHA's Bellevue office. Flack said it could take a month or two to complete the investigation. U.S. Department of Labor regulations for commercial diving operations require that employees on the surface be in communication with the diver and that a standby diver be on hand in case of an emergency. | | Associated Underwater Services President Roger Rouleau said having a single diver under water in communication with the surface is normal protocol for the work being done. He said the piling installation has been postponed while the incident is investigated and there is no timeline for when work will resume. Rouleau said Primeau had been doing underwater work for various companies since 1994. He said Primeau was not married and did not have any children. SOURCE - Bellingham HeraldSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
