Header: Header: Header:

Explosions Trigger Safety Review Of B.C.’s Sawmills

WorkSafeBC has ordered sawmills across the province to immediately investigate sawdust levels and other possible workplace hazards in their facilities, saying the review is urgently needed given explosions at two northern mills in just under three months.

“We are issuing orders immediately to all sawmill employers in British Columbia and directing that they conduct a full hazard identification risk assessment and safety review, and we’re asking them to focus on combustible dust and dust accumulation and potential ignition sources,” WorkSafeBC vice-president Roberta Ellis said.

The order came after a massive explosion and fire at the Lakeland sawmill in Prince George.

In January, a similar explosion and fire at Babine Forest Products killed two men and injured 19 others.

From The Vancouver Sun: vancouversun.com.

Latest News

SmartLam Plans Glulam Facility

SmartLam North America, reportedly the largest manufacturer in North America of cross-laminated timber (CLT), announced it will build a $50 million glulam manufacturing facility in Dothan, Ala. The new SmartLam facility, to be built adjacent SmartLam’s existing CLT facility in a 144,000 sq. ft. structure, will manufacture…

Peak Announce SYP Pellet Mill

Vancouver, Canada-based Peak Renewables plans to build a 180,000 metric tons per year wood pellet mill in Dothan, Ala. The $30 million project will utilize residuals from Rex Lumber sawmills in the area. Construction on the facility is expected to be completed by mid-2023. Peak is building the plant adjacent the SmartLam cross-laminated timber plant and upcoming glulam facility in Dothan…

U.S. Housing Starts Dip In September, Both Single-Family & Multi-Family Soften

U.S. housing starts dropped 8.1% in September from August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.439 million, including a drop in single-family starts of 4.7% to 892,000 and a decline in multi-family starts of 13.1% to 530,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development monthly new residential construction report…

Interfor To Acquire Chaleur Forest Products

Interfor has announced today that it has reached an agreement with an affiliate of the Kilmer Group to acquire 100% of the equity interests in the entities comprising Chaleur Forest Products. Chaleur owns two modern and well-capitalized sawmill operations located in Belledune and Bathurst, New Brunswick, with a…

Find Us On Social

Newsletter

The monthly Timber Processing Industry Newsletter reaches over 4,000 mill owners and supervisors.

 

Subscribe/Renew

Timber Processing is delivered 10 times per year to subscribers who represent sawmill ownership, management and supervisory personnel and corporate executives. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.

Advertise

Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative.