Fish farmer admits breaches following fatal accident

THE integrated salmon farming company Hofseth Aqua is facing the prospect of a heavy fine following the accidental death of an employee just over a year ago.

A 25 year old man Perry Emil Johansen, died  in an explosion in June last year at a company site in Sunnmøre in western Norway.

Now the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority  has ruled that the company breached the Working Environment Act on several matters at a silage plant, which it says, had a number of weaknesses.

This included a lack of risk assessment and training on matters such as explosion hazards.

Hofseth Aqua says it has worked to correct these deviations and was co-operating  with the Norwegian Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The company has accepted responsibility saying it has fully co-operated with the various authorities and has worked to correct any 0missions.

The public prosecutor  has already imposed a corporate penalty of NOK 4m (£287,000) on the company, but further penalties including compensation, are expected.

Hofseth Aqua said in a statement: “We think it is absolutely terrible that this accident happened at our facility and have done everything we can to ensure that nothing similar happens again.

“It is important for us to use the experience from the tragic incident to increase knowledge about this throughout the industry,”

The company said it believed it had good routines for the handling of silage, but added that  neither Hofseth nor the firm who delivered the plant were aware that such an accident could happen at the brand new plant.