Dock worker dies; no safety equipment available

I just read this article and see that this poor man is the third dock worker to die in an accident in Oakland, AND that basic safety equipment to perform a rescue (like ladders to get down to the water) are not available. I'd be seething if I was the workers and I'm very indignant on their behalf. There is no "bottom line" consideration when it comes to basic safety gear, I mean come on, this isn't the 1920's. Condolences to the families; these are just hard working guys trying to do their best, they deserve better.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10292190

Craig Merrilees, a spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, said this is the third death on the Oakland docks in the past year.

Merrilees said Blakeney spent 30 minutes in the water because there was no rescue equipment, such as ladders, available to the workers attempting the rescue.

"Workers are furious over this death and fed up with excuses from companies that don't make safety a priority," Merrilees said in an e-mail. "Workers haven?t gone to work since the incident late Saturday night, and as of now, it is not clear that things will be operating normally tomorrow (Monday)."