Emergency personnel look over the scene of an explosion at Western Bio-Diesel last week. The blast killed Kevin Lodge, of Cayley, a 33-year-old welder who had been working at the site. photo by Don Patterson |
By Darlene Casten
staff reporter
The death of a Cayley welder working at a local bio-diesel plant has added to a growing number of workplace deaths across the province.
Workplace safety is on the decline with skyrocketing fines and on the job deaths growing by 24 per cent last year.
Already this year fines to businesses have exceeded the penalties handed out in 2007 and last year 154 people died while at work - up from 124 in 2006.
Last week, 33-year-old Kevin Lodge of Cayley was killed while he welded on top of a tank at Western Bio-diesel east of Aldersyde.
Lodge was working for GLP Instrumentation Inc., a Calgary company hired to do the work on an expansion at the plant.
GLP president Greg Philpott said Lodge had only been with the company for a matter of months, but was well known as an avid skier.
“He was from Ontario, but had lived at Whistler for years and had been in Alberta for a while,” Philpott said. “He liked to go to Castle Mountain (in Pincher Creek). That is why he lived in Cayley to be close to Castle.”
Lodge was unmarried and spent the week skiing and the weekends working part-time as a welder for GLP, Philpott said.
According to the RCMP Lodge had just sent another co-worker to get some equipment when the top of the tank blew off, killing him instantly.
High River fire chief Len Zebedee said it is likely that a buildup of methyl hydrate fumes from residue still inside the tank, likely caused the blast.
“It looks like the tank might not have been purged of all vapours before they started welding,” Zebedee said.
Lodge fell from the top of the tank to the floor below, suffering massive internal injuries from the blast.
Steel girders prevented the tank’s lid from flying through the roof, however, the impact of the explosion could be seen from outside the building.
Because methyl hydrate burns clear firefighters used thermal imaging cameras to ensure the tank was not burning.
At the time of the blast 15 other workers were in and around the building, but only two were in the vicinity. Both were checked by EMS and were found to have no injuries.
According to Philpott, Lodge’s coworker who witnessed the explosion has taken time off.
“It was very traumatizing for everyone involved,” Philpott said, adding. “It is a sad tragedy. We want to extend our condolences to the family.”
GLP has voluntarily shut down its operations temporarily while they come to terms with the accident.
Western Bio-diesel was not available for comment by press time.
Occupational health and safety officers are investigating at the scene and a report is expected within a couple of months. If charges are laid in the case the matter will go to court. However, if no charges are warranted a report will first be issued to Lodge’s family before being posted on the Ministry of Employment and Immigration web site.
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