Labor ministry investigates boom heard throughout the city

The April boom that started people all over town is being investigated by a provincial labor inspector.

“On April 30, 2024, the Ministry of Labor, Immigration, Training and Skills Development was notified of an incident that occurred at Algoma Steel Inc., in Sault Ste. Marie, on April 29, 2024,” ministry spokesperson Anuradha Dhar tells SooToday.

“It was reported that a worker was injured by erupted substances,” Dhar said

“A ministry inspector has been assigned. As the ministry’s investigation is ongoing, we are not able to share further information at this time.”

Ash SooToday reported last month, the noise was attributed by the company to molten slag encountering water from heavy rains in Algoma’s on-site slag reprocessing area.

The resulting reaction caused a fire in a piece of mobile equipment at the plant, causing one employee to be treated on-site for undisclosed injuries.

The noise was heard by residents in virtually every part of Sault Ste. Marie, and said as far away as Goulais River and Heyden.

It was the latest in a series of blow/moisture incidents at the Sault steelmaker.