Ottawa, Canada – New details have surfaced regarding the tragic explosion and fire at Eastway Tank, Pump, and Meter over two years ago. Court documents unveiled some of the events leading up to the incident, as the company and its owner faced charges for breaching Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Justice Mitch Hoffman imposed the highest fine in Ontario’s history on Eastway and its owner Neil Greene following the deaths of six employees in January 2022. The fatal explosion claimed the lives of Rick Bastien, Etienne Mabiala, Danny Beale, Kayla Ferguson, and Russell McLellan, with Matt Kearney passing away in the hospital the next day. Another employee, Tanner Clement, suffered severe injuries.
The court documents provided a timeline of the events on the day of the explosion, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the blast. Despite the details outlined, such as the wet test being conducted in the fabrication shop, the exact cause of the ignition of flammable vapors remains a mystery.
Fire investigators from the Office of the Fire Marshal determined that gasoline vapors had developed either in or near the tanker compartment above the hatch, leading to the ignition. Contaminated fuel used during the wet test, which included gasoline mixed with diesel, contributed to the buildup of flammable vapors in the shop.
According to industry experts, the case highlights the importance of proper handling and management of fuel products during testing. The incident at Eastway underscores the need for companies to adhere to regulations set by authorities like Transport Canada to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Experts emphasize the significance of following strict protocols and safety measures when handling potentially hazardous materials like gasoline and diesel. Any lapses in attention or failure to adhere to guidelines can have catastrophic consequences, as witnessed in the Eastway Tank explosion.
Despite efforts to piece together the events leading up to the tragic incident, the exact circumstances surrounding the ignition of the flammable vapors remain unclear. The agreed statement of fact suggests various possibilities for what may have triggered the explosion, underscoring the importance of upholding safety protocols in industrial settings to avoid such disasters.