The mother of a Cape Breton man who died in a workplace explosion last January is defending his honour and memory, claiming the accident wasn’t his fault.

Bernice Williams’ 30-year-old son, David, died after he was badly burned in an explosion at the Nexen Long Lake facility in Fort McMurray last January.

Williams says it’s been nothing but painful.

“It's been torture. I don't sleep. I don't eat. I don't go anywhere. I can't. All day long, all I think about is David.”

The company said David and his coworker, 52 year-old Drew Foster, had been changing valves at the site's hydrocracker when something went wrong.

“There is nothing so important that it cannot be done safely. Yesterday we did not live up to standards,” said Nexen’s CEO Fang Zhi.

Foster died at the scene, while David spent ten days in a coma at the burn unit of an Edmonton hospital. His younger brother, Archie Williams, says it's still hard to deal with the loss.

“I wouldn't put this on anyone,” he said. “I wouldn't wish it on anyone.”

As difficult as its been, the family says the company has made matters worse by blaming the victims for the explosion. Still, Nexen has declined to offer details on what the men did wrong or why they were allowed to do it.

“It wasn't even his area. He works on the opposite side of the plant, water treatment and steam stuff like that,” said Archie. “They put him in this area. It's on the opposite side. We want why, and they won't answer us.”

The family says the company told them their investigation revealed the blast was caused by the two employees working outside of their approved scope of duties, and if the family wanted more details, they would have to fly to Calgary and meet with them.

“I told them I'm in no shape to fly there,” said Bernice. “They should come here. My son died there. I don't want to go back there.”

“How aren't we entitled to any of this information?” says Archie. “My brother died. My parent's son died. Thirty years old, an employee of theirs for five years who took an overtime shift, and this is how they repay him."

The family wants the company to clear their son's name and won't rest until all of their questions are answered.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore.