WorkSafeBC is now facing class action lawsuits following a pair of deadly sawmill explosions in British Columbia. The victims including their families are asking for damages regarding physical and mental injuries.
Victims from the blast from both Lakeland Mill in Prince George and Babine Forest Products in Burns Lake claims that there is a huge negligence in the part of WorkSafeBC. The said company already knew that there is a sufficient concentration of wood dust that would drastically lead to a possible explosion.it also hired incompetent inspectors causing irregular rules and regulation in the workplace. The blast eventually killed four workers and injured fourty more. Failure to take reasonable steps to ensure workers safety is one of their main concerns.
The plaintiffs also claimed that an investigative failure on the side of the company occurred. There has also been a manipulation on the case resulting in zero criminal case filed. Complete trust and confidence have been given by the victims to WorkSafe thinking that it will uphold safe and fair investigation on the case but the company did the opposite. Because of this, the company flunked in both respects. It betrayed the victims trust denying them justice for themselves and their loved ones. It has also misrepresented the workers interest. Other employees who were not on the site when the explosion happened also experienced mental distress and anxiety.
One of the victims was Patrick Michell, he was inside the Babine mill when the blast happened in January of 2012. Together with nine other victims, they are also asking for general, special and punitive damages.
In the claim filed by the plaintiffs, it stated that WorkSafe has a bound duty to uphold the workers charter rights to life, liberty and security. The court has given WorkSafe and the province three weeks to respond to the claim and the complaints has yet to be proven in court.
