Poor communication and training linked to fatal B.C. ammonia leak
The independent body that oversees the safety of technical systems and equipment in British Columbia has found a deadly ammonia leak near Kamloops last May was a tragedy that took years to unfold.
A report from Technical Safety BC says the release of a “significant amount” of ammonia happened May 26, 2022, at Arctic Glacier, an ice-making facility in an industrial park on the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc reserve in Kamloops.
The report says the refrigeration unit had been shut down in 2015 but the ammonia wasn't removed and, over the years, miscommunication, staffing changes,  and then the failure to use a licensed refrigeration contractor to check for ammonia all contributed to the unexpected release.
One person died, two others were injured, the area around the plant had to be evacuated and nearby businesses were temporarily closed when the deadly gas was released as a crew began to dismantle the refrigeration system.
Technical Safety BC says workers thought the system had already been emptied but the release happened when a valve holding back pressurized ammonia for the entire system was opened.
The report makes three recommendations, including that a licensed contractor always be used when refrigeration equipment is shut down and disassembled, and that the Canadian Standards Association develop requirements for any work to decommission refrigeration systems.
Jeff Coleman, director of technical programs with Technical Safety BC, says the province's safety system is built on the expectation that hazardous work is only completed by those with the necessary skills and knowledge.
“Unfortunately, when this equipment was shut down in 2015, the ammonia was not removed,” Coleman says in a statement accompanying the report. “Then in 2022, a licensed refrigeration contractor was not engaged to prepare the equipment for final disassembly.”
The statement says between the initial shutdown in 2015 and the release of gas in 2022, “organizational changes, unclear communication, and incorrect assessments, were all contributing factors to the ammonia not being removed.”
Previously cut piping and disconnected gauges showed the system was empty, says the report, and that “led to the incorrect assumption that the entire ammonia system was empty, despite ammonia being found the day before the incident.”
Technical Safety says any contractor licensed to perform regulated work in B.C. can be found through its online “contractor look-up tool.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 26, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.