Canada: Lafarge handed hefty fine for cement powder spill
A cement powder spill three years ago in Richmond has wound up costing Lafarge Canada Inc. a fine of US$125,000.
The fine was imposed Friday in B.C. Provincial Court as a result of a Feb. 17, 2007 incident at Lafarge’s plant on No. 9 Road in Richmond.
Cement powder was being blown into a silo that overflowed and allowed the powder to escape. Wind blew the powder onto boats at Shelter Island Marina and caused other extensive property damage.
Lafarge admitted to failing to check that the powder was flowing into the correct silo. An alarm designed to initiate a shutdown in the event of high levels of powder in the silo also failed. The incident was investigated by Metro Vancouver, which is responsible for air quality.
Published under Cement News
