West Fraser Fined $111K Following Fatal Silo Incident at B.C. Sawmill

West Fraser Timber Co. has been fined nearly C$111,000 following the death of a worker at its Westpine sawmill in Quesnel, British Columbia, after a confined-space incident inside a wood fibre silo.

The incident occurred in January 2025 after a fire ignited inside a silo at the mill. Water used to extinguish the fire caused wood fibre stored in the structure to freeze. A subcontracted worker was later pressure washing the frozen material when a large volume of wood fibre dislodged from an overhang, according to a WorkSafeBC incident summary.

The falling material blocked access to the silo hatch and engulfed the worker, resulting in fatal injuries. Police previously identified the deceased as a 24-year-old man who died during a maintenance operation.

A subsequent investigation by WorkSafeBC found multiple safety failures related to the confined-space entry program. The agency determined that West Fraser, as the prime contractor, had not appointed an adequately trained person to oversee the program and had failed to ensure a qualified hazard assessment was completed before entry into the silo.

Investigators also found that required inspections and testing were not conducted immediately before the work began. In addition, the worker’s harness was not attached to a lifeline managed by a standby person, and rescue personnel were found to be inadequately trained and equipped. The company had also failed to conduct mandatory annual rescue drills.

WorkSafeBC described the violations as high-risk and concluded that West Fraser failed to maintain a system of regulatory compliance and provide the necessary safety information, training and supervision to protect workers on site.

The agency imposed a penalty of C$110,855.83 on West Fraser Mills Ltd. and Eurocan Pulp & Paper.

In a statement, West Fraser Mills Ltd. said it was “deeply saddened” by the incident and had cooperated with the investigation. The company said it conducted a comprehensive review of its safety programs, policies and procedures following the fatality, with particular focus on confined-space work and contractor safety.