OSHA investigators arrived in Coquille, OR on Wednesday, April 17th 2013 and began an accident investigation after learning of an incident at Coquille Watershed Association which had occured on Tuesday, April 16th 2013. A Manager had been killed when the employee drowns in pontoon accident
Accident Date2013-04-16
Accident DegreeFatality
NarrativeAt approximately 1:00 p.m. on April 16, 2013, an incident occurred where Employee #1 was engaged in performing a stream survey for future habitat restoration work. Employee #1 was floating down a local river on a pontoon raft, with an attached rowing frame. As Employee #1 negotiated her craft through a small riffle, the current pushed the raft into an overhanging tree limb which caused the raft to flip. Employee #1 was caught under water on the rowing frame by the shoulder strap and drowned. She was airlifted to a local hospital and was pronounced deceased upon arrival.