Uncertainty over the cause of B.C. sawmill explosions has to be deeply troubling for people in an industry that, out of absolute necessity, must remain safety-conscious at all times.
Four workers died, 42 were injured and two communities were left reeling by the tragedies. Yet more than a year after explosions and fires destroyed mills in Burns Lake and Prince George, there are no conclusive explanations that point to measures that might prevent deadly blasts from happening again.
The excuse for withholding the findings is a legal one. WorkSafeBC says it is preparing to send its findings straight to Crown prosecutors. Mill operators could face fines and even jail time.
Even as work begins on rebuilding the Lakeland Mill in Prince George - razed by a giant fireball in 2012 - mill owners and unions say they're disappointed that results of the investigations have not been made fully public.
They say the need for confidentiality over possible litigation should not take precedence over worker safety. And they're right. The situation demonstrates the extent to which government authorities are prepared to suppress information, even if it might endanger lives.
In May, media obtained a copy of a report on the Burns Lake incident, which concludes that it was caused by a failure to properly manage sawdust in relation to ignition sources such as electrical equipment.
A full, 100-page B.C. Safety Authority report on the explosions was supposed to be released in January. Instead, a summary version with recommendations focused on dust control was released publicly.
The NDP released a safety authority memo that indicated the decision to withhold the full report was worked out between cabinet and Crown counsel. After an emergency teleconference of three cabinet ministers on the matter, details of the original report were destroyed to prevent inadvertent disclosure.
The opposition alleges that the report was withheld for political reasons prior to the election, but comments from Crown indicate this was not the case. Crown spokesman Neil MacKenzie has pointed to a complex investigation that's taken significant time.
While selective release of findings might make sense from a legal perspective, the province will have to bear some responsibility if another tragedy should occur in the interim.
