Babine Forest Products is appealing a one million fine levelled against it by WorkSafe BC for a 2012 sawmill explosion in Burns Lake that killed two people, the Globe and Mail is reporting.
According to appeal documents obtained by the newspaper through a freedom of information request, the firm says the WorkSafe investigation was "unprofessional", did not follow established forensic techniques and its findings were "inaccurate and flawed."
In an April 16 letter to WorkSafe, Babine lawyers wrote "the finding as to the ignition source was not supported by the evidence."
The Globe reports WorkSafe concluded the explosion was caused by a buildup of combustible sawdust and said the mill's owners were responsible for the 'preventable incident.' Babine's lawyers contend the firm "exercised reasonable care in respect to foreseeable risks."
The Babine explosion was followed by an explosion in April 2012 at Prince George's Lakeland Mills that killed two workers. WorkSafeBC is currently deciding on whether to assess a penalty against Lakeland.
