A mill in Quesnel has been fined $637,415.60 after a worker was seriously injured.

According to a penalty summary from WorkSafeBC, the fine was issued to West Fraser Mills because of a number of “high risk violations.”

The worker injured had been vacuuming hot ash from a hatch, when the ash spilled out onto them.

Worksafe says the mill didn’t communicate safety procedures to the injured worker, who had also not been trained in doing that task, and adds that the company also hadn’t done a proper risk assessment on hot ash.

“The firm failed to provide the information necessary to identify and control hazards to the health and safety of workers, a repeated violation. The firm also failed to instruct workers in safe work procedures and provide adequate personal protective equipment for work around extreme temperature sources,” WorkSafe adds in its summary.