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Charges laid in fatal explosion at Terrace Bay Pulp

Terrace Bay Pulp, a mechanical contractor, and three individuals are facing charges in connection with a fatal explosion at the pulp mill last October.

Terrace Bay Pulp, a mechanical contractor, and three individuals are facing charges in connection with a fatal explosion at the pulp mill last October.

T.J. Berthelot was killed in the explosion.

According to CBC.ca, Terrace Bay Pulp and Venshore Mechanical are charged for failing to ensure a tank being worked on was free of an explosive or flammable substance

The three individuals face similar charges. All are charged under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

A local news site, Chroniclejournal.com, reports that the charges specify the tank was being worked on without “adequate instructions (being) given to a worker performing welding-related work on a cracked tank that normally contains a hazardous substance.”

A few months after the explosion, Terrace Bay Pulp became insolvent. The mill was sold in 2012 to Aditya Birla Group, and restarted. The new owner has not been charged.