Kamloops This Week
The B.C. government has introduced changes to WorkSafeBC legislation in the wake of fatal dust explosions at two northern B.C. sawmills in 2012.
MLAs are debating a bill that requires employers to report all workplace fires or explosions that had the potential to cause serious injury to a worker, require employer investigation reports to be posted or reported to employees, and allows WorkSafeBC to help workplace health and safety committees to resolve disagreements over health and safety issues.
Two mill workers died and 20 others were injured when an explosion and fire tore through the Babine Forest Products sawmill on Jan. 20, 2012.
On April 23, 2012 a similar explosion killed two workers and injured 22 more employees at Lakeland Mills in Prince George.
No criminal charges were laid in either event.