5 Months Before Deadly Explosion, Wood Dust On Lights, Handrails, Pipes, Everywhere In BC Mill
Five months before a deadly explosion at Lakeland Mills sawmill, photos show combustible wood dust built up on ledges, under a machine, and on hand railings, light fixtures and pipes for the water-sprinkler system.
In several photos of the Prince George mill, obtained by The Vancouver Sun under a freedom of information request, the dust is so thick it is visible in the air as hazy, luminescent dots.
A five-year span of fire inspection reports, as well as the Nov. 29, 2011 photos, show Lakeland Mills was warned several times about combustible dust hazards before the April 23 explosion that killed two workers.
Combustible dust is defined in the B.C. Fire Code as “dusts and particles ignitable and liable to produce an explosion.” WorkSafeBC inspections of the mill, which have been previously reported, noted high levels of dust but keyed on the harm that wood dust could do to workers’ lungs.
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http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Mill%20warned%20multiple%20times%20before%20fatal%20blast/7119241/story.html
