Category: Health & Safety

Fire at AbitibiBowater's Dalhousie paper mill

There was a fire at the dormant AbitibiBowater paper mill in Dalhousie, New Brunswick earlier this week.Thick black smoke could be seen bellowing from the mill on the morning of February 21st. The Dalhousie Fire Department was the first on the scene… more »

Fire at AbitibiBowater's Fort Frances mill

The AbitibiBowater mill in Fort Frances was the scene of a fire on Friday night. Fire fighters spent nearly 12 hours fighting the fire that started in the kraft mill. Heavy smoke could be seen coming from the roof area of the seventh floor on the n… more »

Stella-Jones Advises of Minor Interruption at Its New Westminster, B.C. Facility Due to Fire

Stella-Jones Inc. has advised that its New Westminster, British Columbia, facility was the scene of a fire on Friday, November 6 which has resulted in a temporary shutdown of two wood treating cylinders. The plant produces utility poles, pilings and timb… more »

Electrical fire at Decker Lake Forest Products

Decker Lake Forest Products, owned by Hampton Affiliates, suffered a recent electrical fire at their lumber mill in British Columbia. "The fire occurred in a control box in the cut off saw in the sawmill," noted David Garcia, regional manager of Canad… more »

Production at Tembec's Canal Flats, BC sawmill affected by small fire

Tembec today confirmed that a fire occurred at its sawmill in Canal Flats, British Columbia. The fire was discovered at 10:30 Saturday evening and was quickly contained. Damage was restricted to the area housing the control centre for the sorting area of… more »

Fire in St. John at Irving Pulp and Paper

There was a fire in Irving Pulp and Paper's sulphur tank yesterday in St. John, New Brunswick. The Saint John Fire Department said there were concerns that a cloud of hydrogen sulfide might be released into the atmosphere, so the building containing t… more »

Forest road speeding tickets hold up in court

Back in 2007, six speeding tickets were issued by Ministry of Forests and Range officials on the Sukunka Forest Service Road near Chetwynd, British Columbia during a road safety operation. Each ticket was issued under the Forest Service Road Use Regul… more »

BC Forest Safety Council Safety Award Nominations

The British Columbia Forest Safety Council is looking to award the safety leaders in B.C.'s forest industry. Right now, and until August 21st, the Forest Safety Council is accepting nominations for two awards: Cary White Memorial Lifetime Achieve… more »

Lack of hazard identification cited in faller fatality review

A new report has been released that identifies the failure to completely identify hazards before performing tree falling operations in British Columbia was a major contributory cause in nearly all serious injuries and fatalities in the sector since 2000.… more »

B.C. Forest Safety Council Progress Report

The B.C. Forestry Safety Council has released its progress report for 2008-2009. The Safety Council is pleased to see a reduction in the number of injury claims, even when the numbers are changed to reflect the lower level of forest operations occurring… more »

AbitibiBowater's gas release causes suffering for neighbours

On Sunday the AbitibiBowater pulp mill in Thunder Bay, Ontario released a gas that was so foul smelling a woman living nearby said the fumes left her eyes and throat burning, and said her family continues to suffer nausea and breathing problems. Kathy Mc… more »

Update on the fired forest firefighters

As an update to yesterday's post about the 50 forest firefighters that were fired in British Columbia: The 50 firefighters employed by three contractors, Grayco, Frontline and Firestorm, will be hired back as soon as they meet safety regulations. But… more »

Canfor's Houston sawmill damaged by fire

A fire ripped through Canfor's Houston sawmill on Tuesday evening. The fire started on the bottom floor and quickly moved to the roof. One equipment operator was trapped in his booth due to extreme heat and smoke, but the fire department was able t… more »

Fire at a Tolko sawmill amounts to only $5,000 in repairs

Tolko Industries Lakeview Lumber Division mill in Williams Lake, British Columbia suffered a fire yesterday in its chips storage building that is adjacent to the main mill.The fire was contained to that building and did not spread. Firefighters foug… more »

All-Fab Fire estimated at $4 million in damages

All-Fab Building Components Inc. lost their production facility in Stony Mountain, Manitoba earlier this week.The fire destroyed a 19,000 square foot plant where their I‐Joist product was manufactured. Fire crews were able to contain the fire… more »