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  The quarterly newsletter for Safety Professionals

Q4, 2006

Issue 4
   

In The News

 

Mining Company Fined $350,000 for Health & Safety Violation

August, 2006: Placer Dome (CLA) Limited, a mining corporation, was fined $350,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in the death of an employee.
 


RED LAKE, ON, Aug. 25 - Placer Dome (CLA) Limited, a mining corporation carrying on business as Musselwhite Mine, which is located about 650 kilometres (404 miles) northwest of Thunder Bay, Ont. was fined $350,000 on August 24, 2006 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in the death of an employee.

On June 28, 2004, two workers were performing underground gas checks after a rock blast when one of the workers fell about 12 to 15 metres (39 to 49 feet) into an open hole, landing on recently blasted rock. The worker died as a result of the fall. The incident occurred about 450 metres (1,476 feet) below surface at Musselwhite Mine.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found the workers were not consistently following standard safe procedures for "post-blast clearance gas checks" (checks done to determine whether there is any presence of gases after rock is blasted).

Following a trial, Placer Dome (CLA) Limited was found guilty, as an employer, of
 
>> failing to take the reasonable precaution of developing standard safe procedures for post-blast clearance gas checks; and/or
>> failing to ensure standard safe procedures for post-blast clearance gas checks were followed.


This was contrary to Section 25(2)(h) of the act.

The fine was imposed by Justice Peter Bishop of the Ontario Court of Justice in Red Lake. In addition, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

 

Source: http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2006/08/25/c8599.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.html

 

 
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