Prince George, BC – The second deadly explosion at a BC sawmill in just over three months has prompted calls for WorkSafe BC to release its preliminary findings into the January 20th blast that killed two workers at the Babine Forest Products sawmill in Burns Lake.

However, the agency’s Vice-President of Corporate Services, Roberta Ellis, says, "No preliminary findings into the Burns Lake investigation are available at this time and WorkSafe BC is not in a position to release information that might compromise the process."

WorkSafe released the site back to the employer last week.  Ellis says equipment that must be examined has been removed from the site and transferred to independent laboratories for testing and analysis, and information and evidence gathered through witness statements is being analyzed.

She says, "Fatality investigations must be conducted within the law while respecting the rights of all parties to a fair and impartial investigation."

There is no word on when the Burns Lake investigation may be complete.  WorkSafe BC and Prince George Fire Rescue expect to begin their site investigations at Lakeland Mills tomorrow or Friday, right now it remains with the RCMP and the BC Coroner’s Service.