A coroner’s jury has made 33 recommendations aimed at preventing future tragedies like the explosion that rocked the Lakeland sawmill in Prince George in 2012, killing two workers.

After deliberating for approximately eight hours, the five-person jury ruled the deaths of Glenn Roche and Allan Little to be Accidental. A death classified as Accidental is one due to unintentional or unexpected injury.

The recommendations are directed to a wide variety of agencies including WorkSafeBC, the RCMP, the Steelworkers Union, the mill owners, and the ministries of Justice and of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training.

Recommendation 33 refers to recommendations made by the BC Safety Authority in its investigation of the fatal explosion. That report may be found at: http://safetyauthority.ca/sites/default/files/lakeland_investigation_report_-_final.pdf

Presiding Coroner Lisa Lapointe and the jury heard from 54 witnesses over the course of 21 days, beginning on March 2.

The full jury findings and recommendations can be found at: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners/schedule/archive/2015/docs/jury-findings-little-alan-harvey-and-roche-glenn-francis.pdf

Media Contacts:

Barb McLintock
Coroner, Strategic Programs
BC Coroners Service
250 356-9253 or 250 213-5020