Photo: Contributed

Finished lumby timber sits stacked outside of the Lavington planer Mill near Lumby. A teenage worker was killed early Saturday morning while cleaning at the facility.

UPDATE: June 17, 1:38 p.m. - Staff and officials at Charles Bloom Secondary School (CBSS) in Lumby acted quickly when news of Saturday's tragedy spread.

Photo: Melissa Ligertwood

Charles Bloom Secondary School

Principal Ken Gatzke says a crisis response team was assembled immediately on Saturday when the news broke, and the school was opened up on Sunday at 1 p.m.

"We wanted to provide a place for the students to gather. Some chose to play floor hockey, some just talked," said Gatzke.

Classes proceeded as usual on Monday morning, with a full counseling team on hand to support both students and staff.

"We haven't cancelled any classes, but we are adapting to students' needs on a case by case basis," said Gatzke.

"I'm proud of these students. They are handling this very responsibly."

Starting tomorrow, a room in the school will be open and available for students to begin assembling memory book items.

With only a few final exams left to complete, Haslam and his classmates had just celebrated their graduation on May 24.

Official awards ceremony and report cards will take place next week.

Gatzke says CBSS is and will continue to be an important part of the community.

"The school and the staff will work very hard to support our students, families and the community," said Gatzke.

-With files from Melissa Ligertwood

UPDATE: Monday, June 17, 11:30 a.m. - The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a male who died following an industrial accident near Vernon Saturday. He was Bradley Michael Thomas Haslam, aged 18, of Lumby.

Mr. Haslam was working an overnight shift at the Tolko Industries planer mill in Lavington when he was found by co-workers severely injured in the early morning hours of June 15. Mr. Haslam was rushed by ambulance to Vernon Jubilee Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival there.

The BC Coroners Service and WorkSafe BC continue to investigate this death.
 

Photo: Contributed

Bradley Haslam

An 18-year-old high school student was killed early Saturday morning when he was apparently crushed to death after becoming entangled in a conveyor belt while working at the Lavington planer mill near Vernon.

The plant is owned and operated by Tolko Industries Ltd of Vernon.

Few details of the youth's death are currently available, but apparently he was one of a number of high school students hired to clean dust from the machines on weekends when plant operations are closed.

"They suspect he leaned too far forward into a machine while he was working on it, and got caught in a chain," explained a fellow worker who also said all work at the plant was halted and he and his companions who were supposed to show up for work this morning, were told they would not be working today.

“We are extremely saddened by this event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the family and loved ones,” said Rob Fraser, general manager, Southern Interior. “We are currently assisting WorkSafe BC and the BC Coroner’s office with the investigation of this unfortunate accident as well as conducting our own internal review. Operations at the mill will be curtailed today and will remain so until WorkSafe BC gives the go ahead to restart.”

When operations resume, Tolko’s Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) service provider will be available on-site to support crews as they return to work.

The young man, who is a student at Charles Bloom Secondary School in Lumby, was apparently about to graduate this month.

The name of the youth is being withheld at this time out of respect for the family.

Tolko Industries Ltd. manufactures and markets forest products to customers around the world.