Central Interior Logging Association
A wood dust audit standard aimed at increasing safety at sawmills has been developed by a group representing 10 major forest companies operating in B.C.
The move follows WorkSafeBC investigations into explosions at sawmills in Burns Lake and Prince George last year that killed four workers and injured dozens of others.
The wood dust audits to start this fall will be conducted independently by firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG and possibly insurance companies.
The companies involved in building the audit standard were Canfor, West Fraser, Tolko, Interfor, Western Forest, Sinclair Group, Hampton Affiliates, Weyerhaeuser, Conifex and Dunkley.
The audits will include an examination of the safety inspection history at the mill, as well as a review of any incidents involving dust, including fires. The audit program will be shared at no cost with mills across B.C. and Alberta.