Explosion in Beauceville: a desire for justice for the victims

Justice must make an example of the owners of the Beauceville factory where three people perished in an explosion which left five others injured in 2021 to avoid another disaster, believes one of the victims.

• Read also: Explosion in Beauceville: “I would have preferred to die”

• Read also: Deadly explosion in a Beauceville factory: eight counts against the victims’ employer

On May 19, eight counts related to criminal negligence causing death or injury were filed against Bois Ouvré and Séchoirs de Beauce.

For Olivier Marchand, who was seriously injured by the incident (see other text) and who is still living with the after-effects of the incident a year and a half later, it is a thin balm.

Remember that as the charges only target the companies, the penalties incurred if they are found guilty can only be pecuniary.

“It won’t bring back the dead and I’ll never get my life back, but I hope at least that the owners will be forced to put the key under the door,” he says.

Failing security?

For Mr. Marchand, the charges against the two companies are well founded. According to him, there were no alarms or sprinklers working when he fell back into the plant after the explosion.

“Investigators told us that the fire had been burning for some time when work began on the roof. There was nothing to put out the flames, so people panicked and threw open the garage doors…Boom,” he said.

Contacted on this subject, the management of Bois Ouvré and Séchoirs de Beauce refused our request for an interview.

“I am very angry with the owners. Our lives were destroyed in a snap of the fingers and they are rebuilding a brand new factory as if nothing had happened, a few months later,” plagues Mr. Marchand.