The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) got a wake-up call last month courtesy of a hefty fine and a list of safety violations that need correcting, as per a report laid down by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) on a rather hair-raising incident from last year. This comes after a close conference held on February 27, where both agencies reviewed the snafus leading up to the Wind River snorkel team incident.
As if the tidal waves of bureaucracy aren't punishing enough, L&I slapped WDFW with a $30,800 penalty that's due posthaste (about 15 days to be precise) and what’s more, they have to hustle to update their rule book within 30 days, according to the statement they released. The update includes verifying each snorkeler's got their own emergency gizmo, revising field communication policies, ensuring snazzy new training for staff before they even think about hitting the water, and beefing up their first-aid kits to handle whatever nature throws at them.
"We take these findings seriously and are committed to working with our staff and L&I to make the necessary adjustments for safety," said Kelly Susewind, WDFW director, in a tone that you'd expect from someone who’s just had their knuckles rapped by the principal. Sure, they've been active post-incident: halting underwater expeditions, mandating PFD courses, revamping safety training, and shelling out for Garmin InReach contraptions and first-aid kits, not to mention organizing statewide safety pow-wows to ensure everyone's singing from the same hymn sheet safety-wise.
