The Fernie arena tragedy has been described as a “wake up call” for the refrigeration industry that may have saved lives in nearby towns and as far as Poland.
Technical Safety BC has shared the results of its ongoing work with ammonia facilities as the first anniversary of the fatal gas leak at Fernie Memorial Arena approaches.
Following the incident, Technical Safety BC issued a safety order that required owners of ammonia refrigeration plants to test secondary coolants for the presence of ammonia and report the results.
Director of Marketing, Communications and Engagement, Quinn Newcomb, said all 185 facilities in British Columbia fulfilled the obligations contained in the safety order and are in compliance.
“We also dedicated additional resources to the regular cycle of assessments and completed physical inspections of all sites,” he said.
Technical Safety BC completed a thorough investigation of the Fernie incident to determine what caused the leak, making 18 recommendations to further improve safety in ice rink refrigeration systems.
It aimed to raise awareness among ammonia facility owners and operators, and also reached out to other stakeholders, including maintenance contractors, training providers, municipalities and the Canadian Standards Association.
The agency’s report and recommendations were shared across more than 60 countries, generating 20,000 views and 5000 downloads.
“We received comments and suggestions, including a request for permission from a refrigeration engineer in Poland to use our report as a training case study,” said Newcomb.
“We are confident that by sharing this information, people in the refrigeration industry will gain a better understanding of the hazards and the importance of robust maintenance programs and aging equipment management. Together, we can prevent a similar tragedy from ever happening again.”
Technical Safety BC’s investigation has also yielded results closer to home. Newcomb said the agency is starting to see a cultural shift in industry.
After reviewing the Fernie Memorial Arena incident investigation report, the Crowsnest Pass council called for immediate repairs to the Crowsnest Sports Complex, as well as plans to include a new ice plant in the 2019 Budget.
“At the Cranbrook arena, arena staff tested the brine in the arena floor and discovered ammonia mixed in with the brine,” said Newcomb.
“The staff quickly shut down the ice-making system and alerted emergency services.”
Going forward, Newcomb said Technical Safety BC remains focused on working with industry to implement ongoing change in the interest of safety.
“While all 185 facilities in British Columbia have fulfilled the obligations to test secondary coolants for the presence of ammonia and report the results, facilities must also consider plans to replace their aging equipment and not run them to failure,” he said.
“The Fernie tragedy is a wake-up call for the refrigeration industry; systemic changes in maintenance programs and aging equipment management are essential to preventing a recurrence.”
