Industrial Fires and Explosions: WSBC Role

While WorkSafeBC’s (WSBC) activities relate primarily to safety in the workplace, this requires, to a substantial degree, an assessment of facilities in relation to relevant Statutes, Regulations and (some) adopted standards.

Recent fires and explosions have highlighted the impact on worker safety, as well as the effect of such incidents on employment, the local economy and on property losses. While there is significant expertise in industries that could be applied to the prevention of major losses, there are further opportunities for the use of good engineering practices in the design of various facilities such as wood processing and flammable liquid-based processes.

Gordon Harkness of WSBC will highlight his role in the investigation of fires and explosions in industrial installations.

The aim is to provide an overview of WSBC and explore  ways in which groups such as, Technical Safety BC, the Office of the Fire Commissioner and SFPE, could work more closely together to incorporate key safety features in the design stages of facilities. While this objective may be aspirational, new legislation and enforcement may provide an opportunity for fire protection engineers to be involved at the key stages of facility’s and systems’ designs.