At a teleconference on Aug. 16, 2012, a spokesperson for WorkSafe B.C. cautioned that although the investigation into the Babine Forest Product and the Lakeland mill explosions was still in progress and that the relevance of today's information as it related to the explosions and fires at those two mills was still being examined, they felt it was appropriate in keeping with their commitment to bring all relative information forward to provide this update as a matter of general concern and advice to industry.

Their concern is that information coming from a test laboratory in the U.S. indicates that particulate [dust] from green logs can be just as explosive in the right very dry circumstances as particulate from dry beetle killed timber.

WorkSafe B. C. investigation director Jeff Dolan states, "In July green wood dust samples where submitted to a U.S. lab for comparative analysis with beetle killed wood which is being investigated as the potential fuel source in the two mill explosions. Test results we received show that green wood dust, like beetle wood dust, at a moisture content of below five per cent and a particle size of less than 75 micro-metres poses a high risk for explosion when dispersed and ignited in the air. These properties are consistent with dust that is found on elevated surfaces such as rafters and beams, inside dust collectors and in hot dry environments like light covers and processing equipment."

WorkSafe B. C. hopes this information will make all mill employees aware of the critical importance of dust management in the workplace. They hope to release a report on the explosions in the two mills by late fall, early winter.