Prince George, B.C.-  Babine Forest Products , has issued a preliminary statement on the BC Safety Authority’s report and 9 recommendations. ( click here for previous story) 

It supports “many of the recommendations for improvements to address the danger identified by these terrible events, of fine, dry wood dust as a combustion hazard. This work will ensure sawmills are safer in the future.” 

While noting that the Babine mill had machinery that was common to sawmills in B.C, and that it had processes and equipment in place to reduce the wood dust present in the sawmill “Tragically, the scope of the hazard was not fully understood before the events of 2012.” 

Babine’s official response goes on to say the new Babine sawmill will contain state-of-the art equipment and systems to collect wood dust at the machine source. " The new mill will have equipment, building and floor plans designed to facilitate clean-up and reduce areas where wood dust can accumulate. Babine is actively participating in an industry and government task force to ensure all sawmills will be safer in the future."

“None of those efforts can make up for the tragedy that occurred in Burns Lake and the devastating effect it had on our employees and their families. We shall always share their sorrow. We have learned from this tragedy and we are committed to make the new Babine sawmill a safe place to work for many years to come.” 

Babine concludes by saying there will be no further comment on the BCSA report as WorkSafeBC has not released any information on its findings and the Crown Counsel is still considering the matter.