Lakeland Prepares To ReStart
First Load of logs arrives at Lakeland Mill in Prince Georg, – photo 250News
Prince George, B.C. – The logs are starting to arrive at the new Lakeland Mill in Prince George.
The Sinclar Group has been calling workers back to the mill as the new facility, prepares to start production.
Workers have been brought back for orientation, and everyone is being treated as if this is the first time they have ever stepped into a sawmill, everyone is starting from scratch.
It’s all in the name of safety says the company, which wants to ensure all workers are familiar with the new technology, modernized equipment and the safety protocols. It is expected two shifts will be coming to work at the same time so that everyone is getting the same information, the same message, the same training.
The mill has been constructed on the site where the previous mill was destroyed by flames following an explosion in April of 2012 that claimed two lives and left many more workers injured.
The mill is expected to start production during the week of December 8th, but it is expected it will take some time before it is operating at full production capacity.
Comments
Good news, for the employees and Prince George. This will be very difficult for some but with continued support all will be good.
Nice to see the mill back up. Lumber prices are good, Canadian dollar is down, most of their production is sold to the USA so, this mill should start making money immediately .
I suspect a number of employee’s are now employed elsewhere.
Rebuild requires fewer employees. Those hired after 2000 May not have a job. Longer term employees coming back because of built up seniority they do not want to loose.
Rebuild over budget also contractors I hear refuse to work night shift.
Contractors face the same skills and manpower shortages as everyone else.
Refusal to work night shift? Refusal of the overtime?
Unlikely, probably down to not enough skilled people available, and also no one wants to work night and day.
Over budget? like most projects, the budget set is not based on reality.
Glad to see this local employer committing to the future by re-building the sawmill.
metalman.
Good news for the community that they will be producing shortly. I would be curious to know what the production numbers are for this new mill compared to the former mill.
Refusal came right from the horses mouth. Over budget, but I thought only government projects went overbudget.
Here’s the thing…since this is a private sector project, and was paid for with PRIVATE MONEY, it really is of zero concern to anybody but the guy writing the cheques if his project came in under, over , or on budget!
Not mine, nor anybody else’s concern!
The main thing is that this is a good news story of people getting back to work in well paying industrial jobs that will support a family and contribute to the local economy!
Let’s not try to find a negative in every thing that happens in this town!
Bang on Nytehawwk!
Would the money to rebuild the mill be coming from insurance?We would all face higher premiums if it is. That’s the way insurance works according to all the people I have ever talked too.
Lakeland owners seem very classy in the way they are re-opening to ensure all returning and new employees feel very comfortable from the time they enter the Mill. In addition to direct employees, there are a number of suppliers and sub-contractors like the loggers who have had a tough go without this work.
On the other side of being thrilled with the new mill opening, I respectfully want loved ones to know we don’t forget those who lost their lives, the injured and even those affected from the mental trauma of it all. Because of them, and to ensure this never happens again, I’ve heard design and safety of the Mill is second to none.
Congratulations to Lakeland Management, employees and those affiliated with the Mill.
jakeadoo – Being a private company, any insurance matters are theirs to keep private. One wouldn’t know if they had insurance, and if so, how much they got. How much the new Mill would have cost versus insurance they had. In the scheme of things, doesn’t matter. They made a business decision to rebuild and for Prince George, that was great to hear.
It was fairly well publicized at the time of the Lakeland and Houston Mill events that certain insurers would no longer insure Mills and those who would, premiums would rise substantially. You are right that it seems when an event happens, no matter where, they use that to increase premiums. Take the New York Towers event, many businesses saw large increases in their equipment insurance premiums even in Prince George. Hard to relate local logging or construction equipment with the nature of the New York event but it did. Perhaps a way for Insurers to spread the cost of claims amongst all its policy holders.
Nytehawk, overbudget, have to see if they can make a go of it.
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