Idaho drilling company loses Washington license after unsafe blasts in Spokane

An Idaho-based drilling company lost its license to operate in Washington this week after multiple unsafe blasts sent rocks flying more than half a football field and damaged nearby buildings.

The Washington Department of Labor & Industries has fined and cited North Idaho Drilling Inc. out of St. Maries multiple times in the past, but a drilling incident in June was the last strike.

The contractor was working in June on North Grant Street in Spokane when a blast resulted in property damage and rocks being thrown almost 500 feet from the blast site, according to Labor & Industries.

The blast was not planned or executed properly causing rocks to hit buildings or nearby cars and sending people runningfor cover, Labor & Industries said.

“This disregard for safety of the public and workers simply will not be tolerated in Washington,” Anne Soiza, from Labor & Industries’Division of Occupational Safety and Health, said in a news release.

Labor & Industries cited North Idaho Drilling for 11 violations related to the incident and fined them $92,144 in state penalties. The blast used more explosives than necessary, blast mats were not properly used and owners of nearby properties were not asked for permission, as required in code, the department said.

This is the third strike for the company. Labor & Industries said the department rarely has to cite contractors for explosives violations.