COFI Kelowna Community Dinner
On April 12th, local government, business and community leaders from around the Okanagan joined forest sector representatives, suppliers, friends and interested residents at the COFI Community Dinner held … more
Forest Sector Strategy Launched at Gorman’s Mill
Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations announced the government’s new Forest Sector Strategy at the Gorman Bros. mill in Westbank on April 12. Thomson … more
COFI’s Forest Education Program Receives National Recognition
On February 28th at their 20th Anniversary reception in Ottawa the Canadian Model Forest Network recognized COFI Forest Education Program’s Natural Resource Management Career Awareness Camps for their … more
2012 Wood Design Awards
COFI Chair Nick Arkle presented the Commercial Wood Design Award to David Poiron who, along with Ben Checkwitch, was recognized for the Nanaimo Cruise Ship Terminal Building at … more
The Voice of the British Columbia Interior Forest Industry
COFI works with governments, communities, organizations and individuals to ensure that forest policies in BC support the forest sector and, as a result, those who are dependent on the sector for business income or family supporting jobs. We work within the national and international (Japan, China, Korea) Canada Wood partnership to improve market access at home and overseas and to increase demand for our members’ products.
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Current Forest Industry News
West Fraser Timber’s Dave Munro Crowned BC Lumber Grading Champion 2012
Close to thirty of the top lumber graders from across the Province competed in the 44th BC Interior Lumber Grading Championship staged in Kelowna on May 5th. Dave Munro of West Fraser, Quesnel, BC had the top overall mark of 96.4% and was crowned BC’s top lumber grader for 2012. Brian Marsh of Prince George, BC was a very close second with a mark of 96.0%, and Steve Brown of Tolko – Lavington Division was third with a mark of 94.1%.
Dave Munro 2012 BC Lumber Grading Champion (West Fraser Quesnel)
WorkSafeBC Sawmill Investigations Update
Investigations into the catastrophic fires and explosions at Babine Forest Products sawmill in Burns Lake and Prince George’s Lakeland Mills continue.
On May 2, 2012, WorkSafeBC provided an update on the fire and explosion at the Babine Mill in order to provide the industry with information while the investigations are ongoing.
In keeping with our commitment to make as much information as possible available to industry, WorkSafeBC is today directing employers’ attention to similarities that have been observed during the course of both investigations. These are observations; no final conclusions have been reached with respect to cause and underlying factors.
In both investigations, the ignition sources appear to have been located at the conveyor level, where electrical and/or mechanical equipment was in operation in areas contained by walls and equipment. These areas are at the basement or lower level of both of the mills under investigation.
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BC Safety Authority Issues Safety Order
BC Safety Authority has issued a Safety Order related to electrical equipment located in sawmills. This measure is precautionary and part of the Safety Authority’s ongoing investigation into the recent explosions and fires at two BC sawmills that resulted in fatalities and serious injuries to workers. This Safety Order further supports a directive issued last week by WorkSafeBC.
The Order asks owners and operators to verify that they have valid operating permits in place, that proper maintenance procedures are being carried out and that incidents relating to regulated electrical equipment are being reported as per existing BCSA directives.
To view the Order, click the following link:
BC Safety Authority Order Electrical Equipment Located in Sawmills, PDF, 192 KB
moreSawmills – Combustible Dust Safety Considerations
Information about industry practices specific to wood dust cleanup, control and associated fire prevention and protection measures has been compiled in a PDF document, link below. The materials cover a broad spectrum of fire prevention but have a focus on combustible wood dust and specifically the cleanup and control of dust in sawmills.
Click on any item in the table of contents to go directly to that material.
Wood Dust in Sawmills – A Compiliation of Best Practices (PDF, 14.5 MB)
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