Canadian chicken processing company fined

In April 2006, a worker at Sure Fresh Foods Inc. suffered third degree burns when he entered an empty 80,000 litre water tank to weld a crack in the structure. When he lit his welding torch, an explosion occurred. This proved fatal and he later died in hospital.

Investigators find cause
It has been reported that investigators found the fuel source for the explosion being naturally occurring methane gas that had likely entered the tank in the water drawn from the company’s well.

It has been concluded by the Labour Ministry officials that the absence of a confined space policy and an air monitoring protocol had allowed the build-up of gas to go undetected.