Labour Ministry probing chemical explosion at Sudbury plant

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has confirmed it is involved in the investigation of a chemical explosion Thursday morning at a Sudbury industrial plant for a company that also has a location in the Sault.

In an email statement to Sudbury.com, a sister publication of SooToday, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development said it was notified on Jan. 11 of the incident at Quatro Industries Limited on the far eastern portion of Maley Drive in New Sudbury.

Emergency crews responded to the area around 9 a.m. Witnesses said several employees who were in the building were evacuated safely. There were no reports of injuries.

Greater Sudbury Deputy Fire Chief Jesse Oshell was quoted earlier today in a broadcast report saying a chemical reaction at the plant resulted in a vapour cloud inside a building at the site. Oshell said the material involved was removed from the plant to an outside area.

The Quatro Industries website’s About section states its main office and plant is located in Sudbury at 2555 Maley Dr., with locations in both Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie as well. The company provides goods and services and material-handling products for the mining industry. The website makes no mention of the company handling any explosive materials.

Greater Sudbury Police set up a roadblock leading into the property, which was still in place as of 4 p.m. Thursday.

Also at the scene were GFL Environmental vacuum trucks. GFL Environmental is a company that handles solid and liquid waste, and advises on waste management.

The Labour Ministry said a provincial inspector has attended at the scene.

"As the ministry’s investigation is ongoing, we are not able to provide further information at this time," said spokesperson Anuradha Dhar in an email. 

Sudbury.com requested additional information such has many employees were at the scene; did anyone require any sort of medical attention; what substances were involved in the "explosion"; has the ministry issued any sort of a stop-work order; has the ministry issued any sort of an order requiring corrective action, and; has the ministry issued any sort of a penalty or fine related to the incident.

The ministry has not responded as of this report.

Len Gillis is a reporter at Sudbury.com.