And then came the leaks. Four Norske Skog mill workers were rushed to hospital after inhaling sulphur dioxide during a chemical leak at the Elk Falls site. The accident happened when an instrument mechanic was installing a new gauge and tightened it too much. This caused a leak in the supply lines. Of the four taken to hospital, three were released from hospital the same evening and one spent the night for observation.
Sulphur dioxide is capable of causing serious lung damage, and can be fatal in prolonged exposure.
It dissolves in moist tissues, forming sulphuric acid - a highly corrosive substance. The following day, the Elk Falls emergency response team scrambled once again. This time chlorine dioxide escaped when workers were replacing a faulty power source in the bleach plant control room. 800 employees were evacuated, with no injuries reported as a result of the leak. The gas was released when a short circuit cut power to the controls for the chlorine dioxide generator.