Teck Cominco faces fine

Vancouver — The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) has fined Teck Cominco (TEK-T) $270,000 for an accident last year at its Trail lead smelter, in British Columbia, in which workers were exposed to toxic thallium.

The safety regulator concluded that the major and several sub-contractors involved in a repair project at the complex provided inadequate hazards assessment.

The workers were exposed to the toxic material in August after failing to wear sufficient protective clothing. The problem was discovered when workers began suffering flu-like symptoms. Thallium is a byproduct of the smelting process and has been linked to nerve damage.

Teck Cominco accepted responsibility for problems in its health and safety systems, stating it would be corrected in accordance with recommendations following the the WCB’s investigation.

Some of the money collected from the fine is slated to be used for long-term monitoring of the exposed workers. Claims for damages were filed by 154 workers, but only 78 were accepted.