Arena ammonia leak kills 3 in small BC town | Golden Skate

Arena ammonia leak kills 3 in small BC town

NanaPat

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 25, 2014
Country
Canada
Three workers were killed yesterday in Fernie BC by an ammonia leak at the arena. They were apparently trying to make emergency repairs to the refrigeration system when something went terribly wrong. Part of the downtown was evacuated.

There were storms with extreme winds and numerous power failures in BC that day, but it isn't being reported whether the deaths or leak were related to the storm.

A CBC report:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fernie-ammonia-deaths-1.4360521

Some are questioning why ammonia, an extremely dangerous chemical, is used in arenas where so many children are present.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...ds-alarm-on-ammonia-at-public-rinks-1.4360113
 

CoyoteChris

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 4, 2004
Three workers were killed yesterday in Fernie BC by an ammonia leak at the arena. They were apparently trying to make emergency repairs to the refrigeration system when something went terribly wrong. Part of the downtown was evacuated.

There were storms with extreme winds and numerous power failures in BC that day, but it isn't being reported whether the deaths or leak were related to the storm.

A CBC report:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fernie-ammonia-deaths-1.4360521

Some are questioning why ammonia, an extremely dangerous chemical, is used in arenas where so many children are present.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...ds-alarm-on-ammonia-at-public-rinks-1.4360113

Thanks! I had no idea...I try and learn something every day....If I was sitting in a rink watching US Pac. Sectionals in a month, I wouldnt have understood the alarm......I knew about the dangers of Zamboni exhaust but not about ammonia.
If ammonia is used at arenas, then I have to wonder if there are US building codes that isolate the ammonia area from the main arena....
 

Violet Bliss

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 19, 2010
Skating great Karen Magnussen is a victim of arena ammonia leak.


Update from wikipedia:

On November 28, 2011, an ammonia leak occurred at the North Shore Winter Club where Magnussen was working; she said it caused her breathing problems, hampered her ability to speak, impaired her vision, and left her chronically fatigued.[17][18] Following the incident and treatment with the powerful steroid prednisone, she gained 60 pounds and developed rheumatoid arthritis, temporal arteritis (swelling of blood vessels to the head), and central sensitivity syndrome (affecting the interaction between the brain and vocal cords).[6][19] WorkSafeBC inspectors cited the club for twelve health and safety violations.[20] Interviewed by the CBC in December 2013, Magnussen said compensation benefits ceased when WorkSafeBC realized her disability was permanent.[19] As of 2015, she continues to suffer serious health problems and may not enter a rink due to the risk from fumes.[21] The Connaught Skating Club decided to organize a benefit show for Magnussen in March 2015.[16]
 

NanaPat

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 25, 2014
Country
Canada
Karen Magnussen is back in the news as a sidebar to this latest tragedy.

We have a new provincial government, so the decision that denied her provincial injured workers' benefits may be reviewed.
 
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