There was more damage done to the Chemtrade Logistics building than was first disclosed on Friday when an explosion occurred.
Two stories worth of wall cladding was blown off the building when one of the "electrolytic cells" contained inside the warehouse-like structure blew apart. The cell is a box approximately three feet by three feet by 18 inches in size. Inside it are plates that send an electric charge through a special brine. It is part of the process to create sodium chlorate which is used in the bleaching process of the city's three pulp mills. There are 84 such cells in the Chemtrade system.
"The panels were blown off from the pressure of the cell rupturing, as they are designed to do," plant manager Jamie Betts said. "They are a cementitious product, very brittle, if you step on one it instantly cracks in half. They are designed to be knocked off in this type of event."
There were no injuries and no general damage to the plant, said Betts, and in the aftermath of the explosion the site has been toured by representatives of WorkSafeBC, the employees' union, the company's safety committee, and a structural engineer.
"The damage inside is very localized to that one cell," Betts said. "A structural engineer didn't find any structural damage. The cladding doesn't affect the operation in any way, so it is not a big priority. In warmer climates these electrolytic cell lines are built out of doors. We have a structure around it because of our winters, but the weather now doesn't affect the operations."
A couple of current and former Chemtrade employees suggested to The Citizen, but did not disclose their names, that staff reductions and safety practices at the facility were less than ideal. When asked about this, Betts insisted "We are very much in line with the industry standards, for this sort of operation."
An inquiry with the Prince George Fire Rescue Service said that there was an excellent working relationship in place with Chemtrade.
A further inquiry with WorkSafeBC gave some specifics on the company's Prince George safety record.
"They have not been a firm high on our radar. Since 2006 I think we've written three orders on them, which isn't too bad," said Bruce Clarke, WorkSafeBC's Regional Prevention Manager in Prince George.
"Our officers are in there periodically. And if their safety committee people request us to attend one of their meetings, we will attend."
Clarke said a safety officer toured the site of the explosion and whatever the ensuing investigation uncovered would be inspected by their office as well. WorkSafeBC was interested in whatever caused the cell to rupture and if there were any other safety violations.
Betts said the causal factors were being explored ever since the go-ahead was given late Friday for people to be allowed back inside that building. He did not know when the inspections would be finished.
