Summerside charged in chlorine gas accident
CBC News
Posted: Jul 12, 2011 12:01 PM AT
Last Updated: Jul 12, 2011 2:37 PM AT
Emergency workers on the scene of the chlorine gas spill at Credit Union Place in Summerside on May 4. CBC A spill of chlorine gas at the pool at Credit Union Place in Summerside has led to charges under P.E.I.'s Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The City of Summerside is facing four charges connected to the May accident, which happened when a worker mixed together the wrong chemicals. The resulting cloud of chlorine gas sent 22 people to hospital, and prompted an investigation by the Workers Compensation Board.
"Generally when we're looking at a charge, we're looking at were all reasonable precautions taken to preserve the health and safety of the worker," said Bill Reid, director of Occupational Health and Safety with the Workers Compensation Board.
Reid said the board has been examining documents and interviewing employees since the incident, but would not go into details of the investigation.
Charges are laid as a deterrent, says Bill Reid of the Workers Compensation Board. CBC The city is charged with: failing to take reasonable precautions for health and safety in a workplace; failure to insure proper instruction and training for health and safety; failure to ensure workers are not exposed to occupational health and safety hazards; and failure to ensure an employee was wearing protective respiratory equipment.
"Prevention is our mandate … We pursue charges as a deterrent," said Reid.
"If any good can come out of this it would be that other businesses would review their safety program."
A court date has been set for Aug. 23. The city faces a fine of up to $250,000.
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