New Safety Order Issued to Sawmills
Prince George, B.C.- While the investigsationinto the Lakeland and Babine forest Products explosions and fires continues, the BC Safety Authority has issued a new Safety Order related to electrical equipment located in sawmills.
The order, issued yesterday relates to regulated electrical equipment ordering sawmills to verify that they have valid operating permits in place, that proper maintenance procedures are being carried out, and that incidents are being reported as per existing BCSA directives.
This measure is precautionary and part of the BCSA’s ongoing investigation into the recent explosions and resulting fires at the Lakeland and Babine Forest Products sawmills which resulted in fatalities and serious injuries to workers. This safety order supports a directive order issued last week by WorkSafeBC.
Stephen Hinde, Electrical Safety Manager at the BCSA, issued the safety order as a precautionary measure to be acted upon without delay. “Although the investigations into the two recent fatal incidents are ongoing and the causes of those incidents have not been identified, this safety order is aimed at minimizing the risk of fire or explosion related to regulated electrical equipment being a potential combustion or ignition source in wood processing operations.”
Hinde explained further, “Electrical equipment is used throughout sawmills and during normal operation can create heat and electrical sparks. This could act as an ignition source for a fire or explosion, so it’s important that mills ensure they are following the Safety Standards Act.”
While this safety order is specific to owners and operators of sawmills around electrical equipment, other regulated technologies are also still under investigation at Babine Forest Products, including propane and natural gas. The BCSA is not yet prepared to rule out propane or natural gas as either an ignition or fuel source at Babine while the investigation is ongoing.
The investigation related to the Babine incident is currently in the analysis phase with no predetermined end date. A BCSA team is currently supporting the Lakeland investigation, which is in the information gathering stage. In both the Babine Forest Products and Lakeland Mills investigation, WorkSafe BC has taken the lead on site control and incident investigation.
As well as issuing this safety order, the following precautionary measures have been taken by the BCSA since the explosion at Babine in January:
- Beginning in February, gas safety officers with the BCSA conducted assessments of gas operating permits in sawmills and industrial sites across BC. This action was taken to verify valid permits, and check technical elements of the gas equipment. This review did not identify any systemic concerns.
- In early April, electrical safety officers with the BCSA began to conduct a survey of electrical operating permits at a select group of wood processing plants to assess the safety of regulated electrical equipment and the effectiveness of mandated electrical maintenance programs. It is anticipated this work will be complete in May.
The BC Safety Authority keeps people safe by promoting the safe installation and use of technical equipment. The Safety Authority also issues permits and licences, educates, and conducts on-site inspections in high-risk situations
Comments
The order, ssued yesterday relates to regulated electrical equipment ordering sawmills to verify that they have valid operating permits in place, that proper maintenance procedures are being carried out, and that incidents are being reported as per existing BCSA directives.
People die, children left fatherless and people horibly burned in the center of our town. I don’t know whether to laugh or feel insulted.
Worksafe is issuing orders that proper permits have to be in place? Proper maintenance needs to be done? Incidents reported?
IT’S 2012!!!! THIS IS ALL COMMON SENSE! WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING UNTIL NOW? INDUSTRY RUNS WORKSAFE, NOT THE CITIZENS!
I don’t know if many on here know that worksafe announces the high majority of their visits days, sometimes weeks in advance to industrial plants, same with insurance companies. There is something wrong about that
In the past an industrial plant had to have an annual “Electrical Permit” before a plant was inspected for elrctricl standards compliance. If they did not have a permit they would never be inspected.
The annuial Electrical Petrmit was never enforced so some plants had them and some didnt. And if they had a permit they were only inspected as time permited. So actualy the permit was just a money grab.
This was in the period before the “Safety Authority” was set up. Then there was an Elecrical Safety Brancb, Gas and Steam. Now the “shit has hit the fan” What will happen heaven only knows.
Cheers
Hmm… same gors for mine inspectors. Whenthe mine inspector isdue to come by for an inspection management always knows well in advance of his visits.
They don’t have enough manpower to do the inspections. Heck if they did start inspecting for compliance to the Electrical code industry wouldn’t be able to afford to fix everything that is wrong.
What will cause more action then any Safety Authority will be the Fire Insurance Companies. Comply with these orders or your fire insurance is invalid.
It happened at Rustads! The fire insurance company inspected the mill and found one chipper room too dusty for the type of electrical equipment installed. The insurance company insisted that explosion proof switches were to be installed in that area. But since the explosion proof switches were going to cost $100,000.00 the switches were bypassed instead of replaced.
Like sex, dust explosions weren’t discovered yesterday. Now that there has been two mill explosions the companies are now being forced to deal with potential hazards. Safety meetings records should be inspected as well to see what kind of safety complaints there are and which ones have been addressed. I wonder how many “Room too dusty and should be cleaned up” complaints they would find.
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