Skip to main content
Skip to CBC accessibility page
CBC.CAMENU
Open news menu
Ottawa
"
Ottawa boiler plant inspections haven't happened since explosion
Court ordered federal department of labour to do health and safety inspections of plant
Photo of Julie Ireton
Julie Ireton · Reporter · CBC News
June 12, 2015
Media placeholderPlay Media
Boiler plant not inspected after sentence 2:15
0 shares 12 comments
CBC News has learned federal inspectors haven't even stepped inside an Ottawa boiler plant almost one year after the department of Public Works was sentenced in a 2009 explosion, despite a court directive to inspect the plant.
Government worker Peter Kennedy was killed and three others were badly injured in the 2009 boiler explosion that occurred in the Cliff Plant just west of Parliament Hill, operated by Public Works and Government Services Canada.
Public Works avoids probation in boiler explosion sentence
Analysis | 5 years after boiler plant worker death, is Public Works safer?
IN DEPTH | Background on boiler plant explosion
In the wake of the disaster, Public Works pleaded guilty to violating Canada's health and safety laws.
The violations were failing to provide necessary health and safety training for the operation of a boiler, failing to adequately train supervisors and managers in health and safety issues, and failing to develop a program for the prevention of workplace hazards.
Federal department ordered to do inspections
On July 2, 2014, Justice David Paciocco ordered the department to pay $300,000, but stopped short of putting the department on probation. Had he imposed probation on the department, Public Works would have been more stringently monitored to make sure it obeys health and safety laws in the future.
hi-ott-peter-kennedy-852
Peter Kennedy died after the Oct. 19, 2009 explosion burst open a boiler at a Public Works heating plant just west of Parliament Hill.
Paciocco said when it came to health and safety the culture of the institution needed to change, but the court gave the monitoring task to inspectors from the federal department of labour, called Labour Program.
"Based on our conversations with officials at the Labour Program," the court transcript reads, "these plants are priority for the agency, given that a fatality has occurred, and that inspectors will at some point, inspect these plants."
The crown went on to say that the inspectors will verify "whether the elements of the safety system review have indeed been accomplished."
During the sentencing hearing, Public Works said in its defence it had already spent $76 million to restore the Cliff power plant and $100,000 for a new training program at the plant.
As well, the plant now follows the more rigorous safety standards of the province of Ontario.
But several sources tell CBC neither provincial, nor federal health and safety inspections have occurred since the aftermath of the explosion.
Labour ministry now initiating plan for inspections
Labour Program issued a statement to CBC News stating the department has had ongoing communication with Public Works.
It also said the department has now initiated a follow-up plan and inspections at heating and cooling plants in Ottawa.
denis st. jean psac health labour safety boiler explosion
Denis St. Jean, national Health and Safety Officer for PSAC, said there hasn't been any inspections at the boiler plants in Ottawa. (CBC)
Denis St. Jean, the national health and safety officer for the Public Service Alliance of Canada, said these inspections have still not been performed.
"There were no onsite visits by any federal inspectors and after the sentencing, in my opinion, there was a requirement to have at least some kind of monitoring," said St. Jean.
St. Jean said he's been told there were no plans for inspections until CBC News made requests for information.
Minister says provincial inspections done
In question period on Wednesday, Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar asked the Minister of Public Works, "Why did the Conservatives put workers at risk by failing to comply with the court's order?"
Minister Diane Finley replied, "I can assure members that in fact regular inspections have been done. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority completed an inspection in May, and have said no noncompliance issues were noted and no further actions are required."
When contacted by the CBC, the TSSA confirmed that limited inspections were done at the Cliff Power Plant in May, but boilers and pressure vessel inspectors have not conducted inspections there since the explosion.
The Public Works department refused to answer questions as to why federal health and safety officers have also not been into the facility to inspect.
TSSA prepared to provide expertise
ottawa-091020-hazmat-team-steam-plant2
An explosion at the Cliff Heating and Cooling Plant killed one worker and injured three others. (Rebecca Zandbergen/CBC)
In Ontario, the Technical Standard and Safety Authority oversees the running of boilers. After the 2009 explosion, an investigator with the TSSA found the Public Works boilers didn't meet provincial safety standards.
However, the authority said it can't go into federal buildings unless invited by federal authorities.
According to a statement, "Should such a request be made, TSSA would be more than prepared to provide the necessary technical and safety expertise to ensure public safety."
Report Typo
POPULAR IN NEWS
1 2019 reading now
DONALD TRUMP MUSLIM BAN: FASCIST OR NOT, IT'S TIME REPUBLICANS FACE THEIR TRUMP PROBLEM
2 1648 reading now
POLOZ SPAWNS NEGATIVE HEADLINES ON INTEREST RATES: DON PITTIS
3 862 reading now
SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND INSURANCE: WHY YOU MIGHT NOT BE COVERED
4 798 reading now
CHANGES TO QUESTION PERIOD COULD PUT THE PRIME MINISTER ON THE SPOT
5 664 reading now
YOUTUBE REWIND UNVEILS 2015'S MOST-WATCHED ONLINE VIDEOS
More On This Story
Boiler Explosion Update
AUDIO RUNTIME 4:41
JUN 10
Analysis
5 years after boiler plant worker death, is Public Works safer?
JULIE IRETON • JUL 4
Public Works avoids probation in boiler explosion sentence
JUL 2
Government charged in fatal boiler blast
OCT 20
Workplace death blamed on government
OCT 18
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Login | Signup
12 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Follow
Submission Policy
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.
More from CBC News
Analysis
Changes to question period could put the prime minister on the spot
ÉRIC GRENIER • 20 M AGO
Updated
Canada's Syrian refugee resettlement process moving at 'good clip', John McCallum says
9 M AGO
Analysis
For indigenous people, inquiries can fuel change — but only if governments act
TIM FONTAINE • 4 H AGO
Analysis
Poloz spawns negative headlines on interest rates: Don Pittis
DON PITTIS • 5 H AGO
CBC Investigates
Suicide attempts and insurance: Why you might not be covered
1 H AGO
Updated
Another blow for Labrador mining industry as IOC delays expansion project
33 M AGO
Tell us what you think
Learn about our redesign project opens new window
Share your thoughts here opens new window
Explore CBC
Stay Connected
Services and Information
CBCCBC gem logoRadio-Canada
©2015 CBC/Radio-Canada. All rights reserved
Visitez Radio-Canada.ca
Skip to main contentSkip to CBC accessibility pageCBC.CAMENUOpen news menuOttawa"Ottawa boiler plant inspections haven't happened since explosionCourt ordered federal department of labour to do health and safety inspections of plantPhoto of Julie IretonJulie Ireton · Reporter · CBC NewsJune 12, 2015Media placeholderPlay MediaBoiler plant not inspected after sentence 2:150 shares 12 commentsCBC News has learned federal inspectors haven't even stepped inside an Ottawa boiler plant almost one year after the department of Public Works was sentenced in a 2009 explosion, despite a court directive to inspect the plant.Government worker Peter Kennedy was killed and three others were badly injured in the 2009 boiler explosion that occurred in the Cliff Plant just west of Parliament Hill, operated by Public Works and Government Services Canada.Public Works avoids probation in boiler explosion sentenceAnalysis | 5 years after boiler plant worker death, is Public Works safer?IN DEPTH | Background on boiler plant explosionIn the wake of the disaster, Public Works pleaded guilty to violating Canada's health and safety laws.The violations were failing to provide necessary health and safety training for the operation of a boiler, failing to adequately train supervisors and managers in health and safety issues, and failing to develop a program for the prevention of workplace hazards.Federal department ordered to do inspectionsOn July 2, 2014, Justice David Paciocco ordered the department to pay $300,000, but stopped short of putting the department on probation. Had he imposed probation on the department, Public Works would have been more stringently monitored to make sure it obeys health and safety laws in the future.hi-ott-peter-kennedy-852Peter Kennedy died after the Oct. 19, 2009 explosion burst open a boiler at a Public Works heating plant just west of Parliament Hill.Paciocco said when it came to health and safety the culture of the institution needed to change, but the court gave the monitoring task to inspectors from the federal department of labour, called Labour Program."Based on our conversations with officials at the Labour Program," the court transcript reads, "these plants are priority for the agency, given that a fatality has occurred, and that inspectors will at some point, inspect these plants."The crown went on to say that the inspectors will verify "whether the elements of the safety system review have indeed been accomplished."During the sentencing hearing, Public Works said in its defence it had already spent $76 million to restore the Cliff power plant and $100,000 for a new training program at the plant.As well, the plant now follows the more rigorous safety standards of the province of Ontario.But several sources tell CBC neither provincial, nor federal health and safety inspections have occurred since the aftermath of the explosion.กระทรวงแรงงานที่ขณะนี้ เริ่มวางแผนสำหรับการตรวจสอบโปรแกรมแรงงานออกคำสั่งให้รักษาการณ์ข่าวระบุแผนกที่มีการสื่อสารอย่างต่อเนื่องกับโยธาธิการมันยังว่า แผนกที่ขณะนี้ได้เริ่มแผนการติดตามและตรวจสอบที่ร้อน และเย็นพืชในออตตาวาเดนิส st. jean psac สุขภาพความปลอดภัยแรงงานหม้อไอน้ำระเบิดฌองเซนต์ Denis สุขภาพ และชาติ PSAC เจ้าหน้าที่ ฝ่ายความปลอดภัยกล่าวว่า ยังไม่มีการตรวจสอบใด ๆ ที่พืชหม้อในออตตาวา (รักษาการณ์)ฌองเซนต์ Denis สุขภาพแห่งชาติ และเจ้าหน้าที่ความปลอดภัยในการบริการสาธารณะพันธมิตรของแคนาดา กล่าวว่า ตรวจสอบเหล่านี้ยังไม่ได้ทำ"มีไม่เข้าชมภายในโรงแรม โดยมีผู้ตรวจสอบของรัฐบาลกลาง และหลังจากโทษประหาร ในความคิดของฉัน มีความต้องการน้อยบางชนิดตรวจสอบ กล่าวว่า ฌองเซนต์ฌองเซนต์กล่าวว่า เขาไม่ได้บอกมีแผนสำหรับการตรวจสอบจนกว่าข่าวรักษาการณ์ทำการร้องขอข้อมูลรัฐมนตรีกล่าวว่า ตรวจสอบจังหวัดที่ทำระยะเวลาที่สอบถามพุธ ออตตาวาเซ็นเตอร์ MP Paul Dewar ถามรัฐมนตรีของโยธาธิการ "ทำไมไม่อนุรักษ์นิยมที่ทำให้คนเสี่ยงโดยปฏิบัติตามคำสั่งของศาล" ฟินลีย์ไดแอนรัฐมนตรีตอบ "ฉันจะมั่นใจสมาชิกที่จริงตรวจสอบปกติได้ มาตรฐานทางเทคนิคและความปลอดภัยอำนาจเสร็จสอบพฤษภาคม และได้กล่าวว่า ปัญหาปฏิบัติตมหลักได้ระบุไว้ และไม่มีการกระทำเพิ่มเติมจำเป็น"When contacted by the CBC, the TSSA confirmed that limited inspections were done at the Cliff Power Plant in May, but boilers and pressure vessel inspectors have not conducted inspections there since the explosion. The Public Works department refused to answer questions as to why federal health and safety officers have also not been into the facility to inspect. TSSA prepared to provide expertiseottawa-091020-hazmat-team-steam-plant2An explosion at the Cliff Heating and Cooling Plant killed one worker and injured three others. (Rebecca Zandbergen/CBC)In Ontario, the Technical Standard and Safety Authority oversees the running of boilers. After the 2009 explosion, an investigator with the TSSA found the Public Works boilers didn't meet provincial safety standards.However, the authority said it can't go into federal buildings unless invited by federal authorities. According to a statement, "Should such a request be made, TSSA would be more than prepared to provide the necessary technical and safety expertise to ensure public safety."Report TypoPOPULAR IN NEWS1 2019 reading nowDONALD TRUMP MUSLIM BAN: FASCIST OR NOT, IT'S TIME REPUBLICANS FACE THEIR TRUMP PROBLEM2 1648 reading nowPOLOZ SPAWNS NEGATIVE HEADLINES ON INTEREST RATES: DON PITTIS3 862 reading nowSUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND INSURANCE: WHY YOU MIGHT NOT BE COVERED4 798 reading nowCHANGES TO QUESTION PERIOD COULD PUT THE PRIME MINISTER ON THE SPOT5 664 reading nowYOUTUBE REWIND UNVEILS 2015'S MOST-WATCHED ONLINE VIDEOSMore On This StoryBoiler Explosion UpdateAUDIO RUNTIME 4:41JUN 10Analysis5 years after boiler plant worker death, is Public Works safer?JULIE IRETON • JUL 4Public Works avoids probation in boiler explosion sentenceJUL 2Government charged in fatal boiler blastOCT 20Workplace death blamed on governmentOCT 18Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.Login | Signup12 CommentsCommenting is now closed for this story.Follow Submission PolicyNote: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.More from CBC NewsAnalysisChanges to question period could put the prime minister on the spotÉRIC GRENIER • 20 M AGOUpdatedCanada's Syrian refugee resettlement process moving at 'good clip', John McCallum says9 M AGOAnalysisFor indigenous people, inquiries can fuel change — but only if governments actTIM FONTAINE • 4 H AGOAnalysisPoloz spawns negative headlines on interest rates: Don PittisDON PITTIS • 5 H AGOCBC InvestigatesSuicide attempts and insurance: Why you might not be covered1 H AGO
Updated
Another blow for Labrador mining industry as IOC delays expansion project
33 M AGO
Tell us what you think
Learn about our redesign project opens new window
Share your thoughts here opens new window
Explore CBC
Stay Connected
Services and Information
CBCCBC gem logoRadio-Canada
©2015 CBC/Radio-Canada. All rights reserved
Visitez Radio-Canada.ca
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
