The owners of two northern B.C. sawmills where sawdust-fueled explosions killed four men and injured many others are appealing the fines subsequently levied against them.
Both Babine Forest Products and Lakeland Mills have asked the Workers Compensation Appeals Tribunal to review the penalties WorkSafeBC imposed following the blasts in early 2012, a WorkSafeBC spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.
The agency slapped Babine with more than $1 million worth of penalties for a January 2012 explosion that leveled its Burns Lake-area sawmill. Robert Luggi, 45, and Carl Charlie, 42, were killed and it led to 24 claims for death or serious injury that added up to more than $5 million.
And Lakeland was hit with nearly $725,000 for a similar type of disaster in three months later. Glenn Roche, 46, and Alan Little, 43, died from injuries suffered in the catastrophe and more than 20 workers were injured, resulting in more than $6 million in claims.
The fines were imposed 2014 and in 2017 they were upheld by a WorkSafeBC review officer in separate decisions in November and January. The fines are the highest WorkSafeBC has ever levied.
Appeals to WCAT typically take up to six months to decide but can take longer if the case is complex.
Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed against WorkSafeBC by employees at both sawmills remains before the court.
