A group of workers and family members of victims of the 2012 mill explosions at Babine Forest Products and Lakeland Mills have launched a class-action lawsuit against WorkSafeBC.
The plaintiffs allege WorkSafeBC was negligent in its inspections and investigations of the mills, breached its fiduciary responsibilities to the workers, causing them physical and psychiatric injuries.
The allegations have yet to be tested in court.
The group of workers and family members are seeking general, special and punitive damages, as well as declarations that the inspections and investigations were negligent and the agency infringed on their charter rights.
"The class members trusted WorkSafe to take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the mills and to competently investigate the explosions," says the statement of claim.
"By failing in both respects, WorkSafe betrayed the class members' trust; denied them justice for their suffering and for the suffering and deaths of their loved ones; undermined their faith in government; and robbed them of the sense of security and safety that a trustworthy and competent system of prevention and deterrence provides."
Scott McCloy, a Spokesperson with WorkSafeBC, said WorkSafeBC will not make any comments at this point.