Pinnacle Renewable Energy fined 56,000 dollars for issues at Burns Lake facility

A Blast door at the Pinnacle
Pellet Plant in Burns Lake
(photo from WorkSafe BC report)

The Pinnacle Renewable Energy company will be required to pay a $56,000 fine assessed by the Provincial Government Agency WorkSafe BC, that after an investigation by the industrial compensation authority into an industrial incident and procedures in place at the company's Burns Lake pellet facility.

WorkSafe put in place the fine after the release of their findings into a 2014 explosion at the Burns Lake wood pellet plant that injured three workers.

The three employees were injured while standing outside the dryer door and were thrown back and suffered burns as a result of a blast inside the burner combustion chamber.

As part of their inspection notice, WorkSafeBC noted four areas of violation, noting a number of concerns, in regard to Pinnacle operations.

Failed to take sufficient precautions for the prevention of work related injuries or illnesses

Had not complied with  five sections of the Regulation

Had not maintained a safe work place or safe working conditions

Did not exercise due diligence to prevent these circumstance

The amount of the penalty was determined in accordance to WorkSafe BC policies, based on the employer's payroll and the nature of the violation.

You can review the WorkSafeBC documentation related to their Pinnacle review here

Some background to the incident and the fine can be found below:

Burns Lake mill fined $56,000 over pellet plant explosion that injured three
WorkSafeBC fines company$55,000 after 2014 explosion at Burns Lake
B. C. mill fined $56,000 over pellet plant explosion that injured three
Pinnacle Hit with Penalty for Blast
Pinnacle Explosion Fine (video)
Pinnacle Energy hit with WorkSafeBC Fine

Pinnacle Pellet operates and ships its pellets through the Port of Prince Rupert at its Westview Terminal facility.

For more items related to the Prince Rupert terminal operations see our archive page here.