Date: August 17, 2023
Location: Saybec, Quebec (CA)
Address: 152 Route Pouliot, G0J 3K0
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Particleboard Manufacturing (Wood and Wood Products)
Equipment: Wood Dryer
Company: Uniboard Canada Inc.
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, Uniboard Canada Inc. is a North American manufacturer of engineered wood products. It’s particularly well-known for producing and distributing particleboard, MDF (medium density fiberboard), thermally fused laminate (TFL), laminate flooring, and other related products. The company has positioned itself as a leader in the decorative composite wood panel industry and serves customers in various sectors, including residential and commercial furniture, cabinetry, store fixtures, and flooring, among others.
Incident Description:
On August 17, 2023, the CBC reported an explosion and fire at a particleboard manufacturing plant in Sayabec, Quebec.
The alarm was raised around 9:45 a.m., prompting the deployment of nearly thirty local firefighters. The explosion caused the fire to spread through the walls and ceiling, making it challenging to extinguish the flames within the structure, but by 4:30 p.m., they had successfully contained the fire.
While the Sûreté du Québec noted a minor injury, company officials clarified that the affected worker did not sustain physical injuries but was in a state of shock from the explosion.
The root cause of the explosion, believed to have originated from a factory dryer, is yet to be determined. The company stated that only one production line was impacted by the incident and all operations at the plant have been halted for now.
Sources:
CBC
