Falco fined for safety violation

Falconbridge has been fined $75,000 for violating the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act at its Lockerby nickel-copper mine in Walden, Ont.

The incident occurred in September 1999, when a miner was preparing to install plugs in holes he drilled at the 5800-level ramp, 1,768 metres below surface. A piece of rock weighing 680 kg came loose from a sidewall and fell on the miner’s leg. The worker was able to cut a lamp cord and wrapped it around his leg to stem the bleeding. Working alone, the miner had no radio and the nearest telephone was about 500 metres away.

The injured worker was discovered three hours later and taken to hospital.

At the time of the accident, Falconbridge had a written procedure that stated anyone working alone was to be checked on at least every two hours unless radio contact was established during that time. An investigation by the Ministry of Labour found that proper procedures were not followed because the miner had not been identified as working alone.

Craig Conroy, a spokesman for Falconbridge, says the incident was “unfortunate” and that the company takes full responsibility.

“We take great pride in our health and safety record,” says Conroy. “We will do everything we can to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”

The company pleaded guilty to failing to take the reasonable precaution of maintaining regular contact with a worker who was working alone in an underground mine.

The fine was imposed by a judge at a court in Sudbury, Ont.