The Incident
In the early hours of January 12, 2023, emergency crews were called to Ssonix Products, a hazardous waste management facility in St. Catharines, Ontario, following a series of explosions and a massive fire. Homes in the surrounding area were evacuated as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
Ryan Konkin, 37, was the only person in the building at the time. He was rushed to hospital but later died from his injuries. First responders who treated him heard his final words: "All I did was open the door."
The Aftermath
The consequences for Ssonix Products have been severe. The company and its three directors — Steve Baker, Sharon Baker, and Tyler Baker — face a combined 21 charges from the Ministry of the Environment, plus criminal negligence causing death charges from Niagara Regional Police. The facility has been ordered to permanently close.
The Ministry of Labour also issued 11 requirements and one order related to contraventions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
How WHMIS Training Could Have Helped
This catastrophic incident highlights multiple failures in hazardous materials management:
Hazard Classification: WHMIS training teaches workers to identify and understand the flame pictogram (flammable materials) and the exploding bomb pictogram (explosive hazards). Workers at a hazardous waste facility must understand the reactive properties of the materials they handle.
Incompatible Materials: SDS Section 10 (Stability and Reactivity) identifies conditions and materials that must be kept separate. Mixing incompatible hazardous wastes can create explosive or toxic reactions — a fundamental concept in WHMIS education.
Storage and Handling: Proper storage of hazardous products, including segregation by hazard class, is a core WHMIS requirement. The charges suggest the facility was not properly managing its hazardous waste inventory.
Emergency Preparedness: Every workplace handling hazardous materials must have emergency procedures in place. Workers need to know evacuation routes, alarm systems, and when it is safe — or unsafe — to enter an area.
Ryan Konkin's death is a stark reminder that hazardous materials demand respect, knowledge, and rigorous safety protocols. WHMIS training provides the foundation for all three.
Source: CBC News, February 4, 2025