On Monday June 2nd 43 year-old diverRoberto Orlando Santibáñez began his workweek performing routine maintenance duties at a depth of approximately 5 metres for a Holding and Trading S.A. farm site along Chiloé Island. However, after returning to his cabin for a rest, he was found two hours later by co-workers in a cyanotic state. He was transferred to the Rural Health Centre, where he was referred to the island’s regional hospital. He died from a heart attack shortly after arriving to the hospital. The original incidence report emitted by Captain Octavio Castillo of the national coast guard concludedthat the death of the worker did not involve a diving accident. A follow-up investigation however, on behalf of theRegional Inspection of Labour in Chiloé, determined that the company Holding and Trading S.A. had not yet adopted all of occupational safety measures established within this year, such as maintaining an updated checklist regarding diving equipment usage, nor did anyone from the company participate in the most recent risk training and prevention course dictated by the occupational safety institute IST (Instituto de Seguridad del Trabajo). The Regional Inspection of Labour is fining the company approximately US$ 11,000 for the non-compliances of occupational safety.
