Province looking into CNRL explosion
Posted Jan 7, 2011 9:11 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The minister in charge of workplace safety in Alberta says oilsands production is still generally a safe industry to work in.
The statement follows an explosion and fire Thursday that directly injured at least three workers.
Two others were also hurt, but it’s not yet known if their injuries are related to the blaze.
Three previous deaths over the last few years at the Horizon site are currently before the courts.
A stop work order has been issued for the up-grader.
Without that in operation, the entire plant has been forced to shut down.
Meanwhile, the provincial NDP is accusing the Stelmach Tories of having lax worker safety rules after this incident.
NDP labour critic Rachel Notley tells 660News, the rules need to be beefed up, better enforced and says the government is putting industry interests ahead of those of workers.
Employment Minister Thomas Lukaszuk says he’s not ready to jump to conclusions, but promised the investigation will be thorough.
“If we find that this incident occurred as a result of anyone’s negligence, those parties will be brought before any form of repercussions that are available within the legislation,” he says.
The minister says investigators will take all the time they need and he doesn’t know yet exactly how long that will be.
