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Four people and two companies have been charged in the horrific mushroom barn tragedy that killed three workers and left two more severely brain damaged in Langley two years ago.

The provincial Criminal Justice Branch announced 29 charges under the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations on Monday.

“There are no criminal charges,” said Neil MacKenzie, a provincial Crown spokesperson.

Charged are Ha Qua Truong, Vy Tri Truong, Van Thi Truong, and Thinh Huu Doan, along with A-1 Mushroom Substratum Ltd. and H.V. Truong Ltd.

The four individuals are all charged as directors of the companies, or as supervisors of the workers.

The long list of charges relate to general health and safety rules – both companies are charged with failing to ensure the health and safety of workers – along with more specific faults.

There are charges for not creating occupational health and safety plans, for not fixing hazardous workplace conditions, for failing to maintain a workplace to ensure safety, or for failing to inform workers about hazards.

A number of the charges relate to a failure to inform employees about or train them for confined space incidents.

On Sept. 5, 2008, an employee collapsed in a small pump room in a mushroom manure processing facility in the 23700 block of 16th Avenue.

Other men tried to rescue the victim, and were also overcome by an apparent a build-up of toxic gas, or a lack of oxygen.

Two men were severely brain-damaged, and families were left to struggle economically without their primary breadwinners.

No date is yet set for a trial..

All the charges have the same penalty, according to MacKenzie: up to six months in jail, or a fine of $618,730.

The investigation into the incident took more than 18 months.

“It’s very likely the largest or most complex,” that Worksafe BC has ever undertaken, said Worksafe spokesperson Donna Freeman.

Since the day of the incident, mushroom composting has been halted at the site. However, other work has gone on, including mushroom-growing.

The mushroom farm at the site was notorious even before the incident. Neighbours were upset by foul smells, and Langley Township was to take it to court the day of the fatal incident.

After the incident, provincial environmental authorities investigated after waste escaped from a containment facility, apparently spilling into the headwaters of the Little Campbell River