Lac des Iles Mine, operated by North American Palladium north of Thunder Bay, has been fined $365,000 for two separate incidents in 2014 that resulted in an injury to one worker and a fatality for another.
On July 10, 2014 a miner was killed after being struck and crushed by a run of muck while operating a scoop tram underground.
The Ministry of Labour ordered the company to ensure written safety precautions and procedures were used before, during and after the removal of material.
As a result, NAP developed a written policy that “no worker outside a loader would be permitted ahead of the safe-limit line without permission from a supervisor.”
NAP was fined $300,000 in conjunction with the incident.
On Feb. 22, 2014, an equipment operator was injured while loading a haulage truck above ground at a rockface at the mine.
When the working face of the stockpile failed, material fell onto the excavator, crushing the cab and trapping the worker, who suffered from hand and leg injuries.
NAP was fined $65,000 in relation to the incident.
In addition to the fines, 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.
