WorkSafeBC issued a warning to wood processing plants to take extra precautions in the winter months to "control the risks" that can trigger a potential combustible dust explosion.
Hampton Affiliates said it will rebuild the Babine Forest Products sawmill in Burns Lake, BC, destroyed in a deadly explosion and fire, contingent on government guarantees for sufficient timber supply and negotiating "an acceptable agreement" with the United Steel Workers union.
Waldun Forest Products, reportedly one of the world's largest manufacturers of cedar roofing shakes and shingles, was destroyed in a fire Saturday night.
Rebuilding of the Babine Forest Products sawmill, destroyed in a deadly explosion and fire, rests on the findings of a report on fiber supply availability due out next month.
Combustible dust from wood manufacturing plants faces more regulation as WorkSafeBC, a Canadian authority similar to OSHA, expands its dust controls to include wood and paper operations.
Phase II of WorkSafeBC’s combustible dust strategy begins this week, and has been expanded to include similar wood processing operations where dust accumulation could be a safety hazard.
Detection of high methane gas led to the shutdown last week of the Lakeland Mills sawmill, scene of the April 24 explosion and fire that killed two workers and injured two dozen more.
WorkSafeBC, investigating the deadly sawmill explosions at Babine Forest Products and Lakeland Mills, said ignition sources for each of the accidents appear to have been located at the conveyor level where electrical and/or mechanical equipment was in operation.