Skeena-Bulkley Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen is pleased the BC Coroners Service's will investigate the fatal 2012 explosion at Babine Forest Products, but he's concerned that the agency may not be able to accomplish all that it hopes to achieve.
"It seems to me that the inquiry is going to have a tall order especially after it seems that WorkSafe has badly botched the investigation, not treating the scene like a potential crime scene and not informing people that when they were given testimony that this could go this way," Cullen said Thursday during a teleconference with regional media.
The fire and explosion in January 2012 killed two workers and injured 20 others at the mill just east of Burns Lake. The provincial coroner announced this week that an inquest will be held, but the dates and times have yet to be released.
Two weeks ago, provincial Crown counsel announced no charges would be laid as a result of the explosion and in its report criticized how WorkSafe BC conducted its initial investigation of the blast. Cullen described the Crown counsel report as "scathing" and he thinks fault lies with the provincial agency.
"I fault WorkSafe, I fault the provincial government for not maintaining safe workplaces," he said. "And for companies that weren't keeping things safe, they should have been fined and made to correct the problem."
While the cause of the blast hasn't officially been determined, Cullen said he believes that the dangers of sawdust in mills have been known for years. He's concerned that the fear of liability and lawsuits are preventing the true reason behind the fire from being identified.
"Everyone is looking to make sure that they're not the ones on the hook and being blamed," he said. "But for the community and for the families, it just feels very unresolved at this point because they just don't have basic answers."
The inquest will not be able to find fault with any individual or group, but will be able to make recommendations to ensure a similar incident doesn't occur again.
"There's damage to be repaired, not just from the initial tragedy, but from how things have been badly handled since the accident," Cullen said.
