Prince George, BC – The United Steelworkers Union has renewed its call for an independent public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deadly 2012 explosions at both Babine Forest Products and Lakeland Mills…

On Monday, the union’s lawyers withdrew from the Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths of Glenn Roche and Alan Little underway in Prince George and joined calls by family members and some in the larger community calling for an inquiry.

In light of yesterday’s adjournment, United Steelworkers Director, Stephen Hunt, says new information at this late date and word from Inquest Counsel that WorkSafeBC refused to consider or review the forensics investigation conducted on behalf of lawyers for Lakeland Mills only provides further support for a public inquiry into both incidents.

“How is it possible that despite WorkSafeBC’s claim of conducting the most thorough and exhaustive investigations in their history, more evidence is still coming to light,” queried Hunt.

“Over the past week, the inquest has heard how WorkSafeBC’s failure to carry out its mandate to ensure the health and safety of workers resulted in a complete mishandling of sawmill safety both before and after the explosion,” said the union rep.  “Despite this tragic failure to do its job, the agency is not being held accountable.”

Inquest Counsel, John Orr, speaking outside courthouse yesterday 250News photo

Inquest Counsel, John Orr, requested the adjournment to give him some time to review the forensics investigation material produced by Lakeland lawyers on Monday, and because he intends to compel WorkSafeBC’s then CEO, David Anderson, to testify.  When asked by reporters why Anderson wasn’t called to testify earlier, Orr said, “Partly because we didn’t have this information and we thought the Director of Investigations would cover off those issues.

“But now the question arises who made the decision to proceed without the CASE Forensics information and, therefore, I think we have to go to a higher level.”

Director of Media Relations, Scott McCloy, said, “WorkSafeBC has no statement to make at this time.”

BC Premier Christie Clark announced an overhaul of the agency meant to safeguard worker health and safety last February, after Crown Counsel announced it would not be pursuing criminal charges in the deaths of Robert Luggi and Carl Charlie at Babine Forest Products.  One month later, the Crown once again cited flaws in WorkSafe’s investigation in its reason for not pursuing charges in the Lakeland blast.

No date has been set yet for when the inquest will re-convene, but Orr felt yesterday it might be sometime towards the end of April  He does not think the adjournment will impact the Coroners Inquest into the deaths of the two men killed at Babine, scheduled to begin in July.  “I think it may actually make the Babine (Inquest) flow easier because we’ll have dealt with so many of the issues here.”