Irving Oil Refinery Explosion Charges Set Over Until February
SAINT JOHN – It will be next year before lawyers representing Irving Oil are back in court on charges connected to the 2018 explosion and fire at the refinery in Saint John.
WorkSafeNB says three charges were laid under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS) on October 1.
Irving Oil Ltd. faces one charge under subsection 11(b) of the act: Every owner of a place of employment or part thereof shall take every reasonable precaution to ensure the health and safety of any person having access to or using that place of employment or part thereof.
The employer, Irving Oil Refining GP, is charged under subsections 9(1)(a): Every employer shall take every reasonable precaution to ensure the health and safety of his employees.
Irving Oil Refining GP is also charged under subsection 68(b): An employer shall ensure that piping and apparatus for a hazardous substance is maintained in safe operating condition and regularly inspected.
In court on Tuesday morning, Irving Oil lawyer Matthew Hayes asked for the matter to be set over as they are still waiting for the disclosure from the Crown. The matter returns to court on February 20, 2020.
RELATED: Charges Filed In Irving Oil Explosion
As many as 3,000 workers were at the refinery when the explosion rocked the city on Oct. 8, 2018. Most were taking part in the refinery’s annual turnaround project.
Several workers were treated in hospital for minor injuries after the incident, which happened around 10:15 a.m.
Hours after the explosion, an Irving Oil official said there was a malfunction in a diesel-treating unit, which removes sulfur from diesel.
Tamara Steele is a reporter with CHSJ/Country 94, a Huddle content partner.