The owners of the Babine Forest Products sawmill will have to pay just over $1 million to WorkSafeBC as penalty for its role in a deadly explosion and fire two years ago.
The fees include $97,500 in an administrative penalty and $914,139 to recoup WorkSafeBC's claims investigation. Babine Forest Products, which is jointly owned by Hampton Affiliates and Burns Lake Native Development Corporation, was found to be in violation of British Columbia's Workers Compensation Act.
According to WorkSafeBC's January 16, 2014, report into the January 2012 explosion and fire, the accident was preventable and caused by highly explosive wood dust that was allowed to accumulate to dangerous levels.
In January 2014, British Columbia's criminal justice branch announced it would not proceed with any of the criminal charges recommended by WorkSafeBC because the safety agency had not followed proper procedures of a criminal investigation, meaning much of the evidence gathered would likely be inadmissible in court.
Levying an administrative penalty was the only avenue left to WorkSafeBC.
Adrian Dix, leader of the B.C. NDP, was quick to condemn the penalty as inadequate.
"Of the fines being issued to Hampton Affiliates today, only about 10 per cent –$97,500 – are actual penalties," said Dix in a statement. "The bulk of the so-called fine is to cover WorkSafe BC's costs."
Dix has called for a public inquiry into the sawmill explosion and subsequent botched investigation.
In a statement, Hampton Affiliates said it will appeal the fine and called the penalty "disingenous," in light of the fact the Crown did not recommend charges because there was not enough evidence to show Babine Forest Products was at fault.
British Columbia's coroner will hold an inquest into the incident.
Later this month, B.C.'s criminal justice branch is expected to announce whether it will approve the regulatory charges WorkSafeBC has recommended in a similar explosion and fire that happened at the Lakeland Mill in Prince George in April 2012.
