Technical Note SB39: Combustible dust mitigation and control

Sawmills [in Canada] move from 42% compliance in 2012 to 100% compliance in 2019 for dust mitigation and control.  In 2012 two tragic sawmill explosions took the lives of four men, the incident shook the industry and inspired immediate action.

The significant risks associated with wood dust in manufacturing propelled the forest products manufacturing industry, labour unions and WorkSafeBC to come together and work on strong mitigation and control measures from 2012 to 2018.

During this time, the number of B.C. sawmills that underwent inspections and responded to WorkSafeBC recommendations rose from a 47 per cent compliance rate to 100 per cent compliance and industry-wide support for combustible dust inspection initiatives.