Auto dealership charged in Dartmouth blast that killed worker

A car dealership has been charged with several safety violations in the deadly fire and explosion at its Dartmouth body shop last year.

Kyle Hickey, 22, died in hospital on March 14, 2008, the morning after he was injured in the blast at the former O'Regan Kia dealership on Wyse Road.

Hickey'sjob was to prepare vehicles for painting and bodywork. He had been working at theshop for less than a year whenthe explosion happened.

O'Regan Chevrolet Cadillac Ltd. has been charged with five counts under the province's Occupational Health and Safety Act.The company isaccused of failing to train employees to work with dangerous substances, failing to provide safe equipment and improperly storing and labelling dangerous materials.

Richard Allan Dey, the company's director of collision centres, is charged under the act with failing to protect an employee's health and safety.

Brian Taylor, spokesman for Labour and Workforce Development, said the investigation wrapped up on Wednesday, and the charges were laid then.

Taylor said the explosion originated in a large drum of solvent used to clean paint guns. He said the barrel wasn't properly grounded, and investigators believe that caused the spark.

Sean O'Regan, president and CEO of O'Regan's Automotive Group, said he's had no communication with labour officials during the 15-month investigation and isn't clear about the charges.

"The department was in and did a full assessment," he told CBC News on Thursday. "We've really had no direction from them."

O'Regan saidhis company has a very good safety record and gives its employees the best training it can.

The explosion happened late in the afternoon on March 13, 2008.

Some witnesses described hearing a low whooshing sound and then saw thick, black smoke billow out of the building. One woman said she saw a manwalk out, badly burned and with little clothing left.

The case goes to court on July 16 in Dartmouth. If found guilty, the dealership could be fined up to $250,000 per charge. Dey could be fined a maximum of $250,000 and could be jailed for up to two years.