Teck-Cominco fined for accident at Trail plant
Date: 22-Apr-02
Country: CANADA
The province's Workers Compensation Board cited the company and several subcontractors involved in a repair project for problems including poor communications and an inadequate hazards assessment.
The workers exposed to the toxic material in August did not wear enough protective clothing because the threat of exposure was not thought to be high. Thallium is a byproduct of the smelting process that has been linked to nerve damage.
The problem was discovered when workers began suffering flu-like symptoms, and the company acknowledged after its own investigation last year that its medical officials did not immediately realize the illnesses were workplace related.
Teck-Cominco said last week it accepted responsibility for problems in its health and safety systems that would be corrected based on the WCB's investigation.
"People involved in the technical and research functions at Trail knew that high thallium levels existed, but this information was not communicated to the people responsible for hazard assessment in the workplace," Teck-Cominco said last week.
Some of the money collected from the fine would be used for long-term monitoring of the exposed workers. Claims for damages were filed by 154 workers, but only 78 were accepted. One worker is still receiving wage loss benefits.