City to review ammonia protocols following Fernie deaths
Management with the City of Prince Albert are reviewing procedures around ammonia use in ice rinks after three men were killed by an ammonia leak at an arena in Fernie, British Columbia.
The three workers died after they were accidentally exposed to an ammonia gas leak Oct. 17, and the town declared a seven-day state of emergency. More than 100 residents were forced to leave their homes as emergency crews worked to control the leak and assess the spread of the gas before the evacuation order was lifted early this week.
Gordon Hood, health, safety and environment coordinator for the City of Prince Albert, said only one arena in the city uses ammonia.
“There’s only one city facility that has ammonia in its refrigeration system and that’s the Art Hauser Centre, our newest facility,” Hood said.