WorkSafeBC has completed its investigations into the explosion on January 20, 2012 at the Babine Forest Products Company in Burns Lake and the explosion on April 23, 2012 at Lakeland Mills Ltd. in Prince George. Two workers were killed and 20 injured in the Babine mill explosion. Two workers were killed and 22 injured in the Lakeland mill explosion.

Pursuant to Division 15 of the Workers Compensation Act (“Act”) WorkSafeBC has made the decision to refer these matters to Crown Counsel; to that end material is now being prepared.

WorkSafeBC has released safety information as it became known during the course of these investigations. This information has been shared with industry and is posted on the website at www.WorkSafeBC.com.

WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a board of directors that serves about 2.3 million workers and more than 210,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born from the historic compromise between B.C.’s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. WorkSafeBC is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits.