(ENGINEERING SOCIETY) BMFG4812

CASE STUDY:
BABINE FOREST PRODUCTS LIMITED EXPLOSION

NO.

STUDENTS NAME

MATRIC. NO.

1.

Ameir Asyraff Bin Mohd Zin

B051210078

2.

Shahrul Niezam Bin Md Zin

B051210212

3.

Nur Syahirah binti Mazda @ Mazdarudin

B051210140

4.

Muhammad Husaini Bin Jailani

B051210099

BACKGROUND OF COMPANY
Company
Address

Products

Babine Forest Products

Limited
19479, Highway 16,
East Burns Lake, British
Columbia, Canada.
Framing lumber and
studs

Date, Day
and Time of
Incident

21st January 2012,

Friday, 8.07PM

Employees

250 local workers

Casualty

2 deaths and 20 injury

What
happen?

A large fireball burst through the

roof at the northeast of mill and
travelled to the entire mill

CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE

Incident in Babine Forest Products Ltd has become controversial issue

because of the explosion that has happened causing 2 death and 20
injuries. 2 workers had died instantly and 20 workers were badly injured
due to fire and some were trapped inside the mill.

The weather is -40 C when the explosion happens. The workplace is dry
and full of wood dust. Despite of having maintenance shift, wood dust still
accumulated around machines and conveyors.

It had been reported that the water heater is not functioning, the dust
collection system also did not working during explosion happen and the
spark detection system was not working due to improper installation.

POTENTIAL MAJOR CAUSES

NO.

CAUSES

1.

Accumulation of wood dust

2.

Dust collecting system

3.

Spark detection system

4.

Conditions of the wood and weather

5.

Water pipes

POTENTIAL MAJOR EFFECTS

NO.

EFFECT

1.

A fireball is initiated from the motor-reducer V-belt, resulting an explosion in the mill.

2.

Affecting the workers safety and health.

3.

The inadequate power supply may cause short circuit, power breakage, disturbance to
working operations, or explosion.

4.

Frozen water pipes caused:

machines unable to operate
dust collection system failure (baghouse - moisture had collected and frozen the filter
bags).

5.

The incident caused the mill to be in huge debt, bad reputation and they also have to pay
compensation to the workers family.

ENGINEERING ETHICS PROBLEM

Improper improper installation of pressurized system

instalatio at MCC.
n
The sparks detection also incorrectly
installed by the company.
Ethic
[1.2] where a professional engineer shall certify
satisfactory completion of a piece of work only if
he has control over the supervision of the
construction or installation has fulfil the
requirements of the engineering design and
specifications. Moreover, this problem also
violates ethics.
[2.0] which is a registered engineer shall
undertake assignments only if he is qualified by

Engineering Ethics Problem

(Cont).
Dust
collecting
system

No design modification record and calculation were made for

the modification of the dust collection system in year 2010
and since it originally installed.
Undersize bag house that cannot support the entire factory
and Inadequate power supply that suspend the upgradation
of the bigger bag house.

Ethics:
[1.2] A registered engineer shall certify satisfactory
completion of a pieces of work only if he has control
over the supervision of the construction or installation
of that work, and only if he is satisfied that the
construction
or
installation
has
fulfilled
the
requirements
of
the
engineering
design
and
specifications.

Engineering ethics problem

(Cont).
Accumulation
of wood dust

The design of the guard is slightly different with the original

design where the v-belt guard are fabricated fit than the
actual design. The wood dust built up within the narrow area
inside the guard that lead to fire ignition.

Ethics:
[5.3] stated that A registered engineer shall check with due
diligence the accuracy of facts and data before he signs or
endorses any statement or claim. He shall not sign on such
documents unless, where necessary, qualifications on error
and inaccuracies have been made.

Engineering ethics problem

(Cont).
Shift
schedule

The management start the production

earlier at 4.30 am, where the factory
should start the day shift 6.00 am until
16.30 pm and afternoon shift start
from 17.00 pm until 3.30 am.

Ethics:
[1.4] which is a registered engineer having knowledge of any
violation of this code and local authorities regulations shall report
thereon to appropriate professional bodies and, when relevant,
also to public authorities and cooperate with the proper authorities
in furnishing such information or assistance as may be required.

Engineering ethics problem

(Cont).
Ethics:
[1.4] which is a registered engineer having knowledge of any
violation of this code and local authorities regulations shall
report thereon to appropriate professional bodies and, when
relevant, also to public authorities and cooperate with the
proper authorities in furnishing such information or
assistance as may be required.

PREVENTIVE ACTIONS FOR AVOIDING THE

PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE
Redesign and install the
pressurized
FUTURE
. air system at MCC and
spark detection system are back .

Install the dust sensor in MCC room and wireless spark

detection system.
Install new power plan that able to supply more power to
entire factory.
All department must be installed fireproof wall to avoid fire
from spreading to other section .
Redesign the V-belt cover and use transparent material or
the cover integrated with thermocouple and smoke detector
sensor.
Hire safety one safety officer for one department.
install system that only supply power just before the shift
start.

Ethics

Scope of ethics