Aidan Webber, a junior BMX champion from Nanaimo, was tragically crushed to death in a work place accident. (submitted/Nicole Webber)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

tragic death

Improper training and safety found after investigation into workplace death of Nanaimo BMX champion

Jan 20, 2021 | 4:50 PM

NANAIMO — An investigation found the Nanaimo BMX champion who tragically died during a workplace accident at a fish farm wasn’t properly trained.

Aidan Webber, 18, was crushed to death by a barge on March 10, 2019. He’d jumped off to tie off the barge at a Port Hardy fish farm when the “barge’s forward momentum led the starboard bow to slide up onto the walkway. Mr. Webber was pinned…he sustained significant crushing trauma to his upper body,” the BC Coroners Service report said.

He passed away en route to the nearest Coast Guard station.

The BC Coroners Service investigation found a lack of training and safe work procedures in place.

“The training provided to Mr. Webber was informal in nature and did not provide specific guidelines for docking safely, including instructing deckhands to await instruction before moving off a vessel onto a mooring location.”

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The investigation report said Webber jumped from the barge onto the walkway to tie off the boat before he should have. It found the process for tying off a barge was difficult and required deckhands to put their back to the barge, which Webber did.

The BC Coroners Service found the boats owner and operator violated four sections of the Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

It recommends the owner create and implement a formal and comprehensive training and orientation program for workers.

The deadly accident cut short Webber’s successful BMX career.

He won titles at home and aborad. He was the 2018 Canadian Junior Elite National Champion.

His family created the Aidan Webber Memorial Race and Pro-Am on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, which would have been his 19th birthday.

It was hoped the race would become an annual event, but the second year was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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