Ministry of Labour inspectors conducted a safety blitz last fall at mine and exploration sites to check up on adherence to safety training programs.
Of 78 field visits at 67 mining workplaces between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, the ministry issued 192 orders for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations.
This included 16 stop work orders in response to health and safety issues.
Inspectors directed their attention on mineral exploration sites, new or reopened mines, smelters and mills, mines where previous incidents took place or have poor compliance history.
All employers are required to develop specific training, based on the Ontario government’s standardized course materials.
Inspectors on this blitz were checking that workers were trained for work they did and there was proof they had completed all the appropriate common-core training modules as sanctioned by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
More than 10 per cent (23 orders) of the orders involved training requirements. The others were for hazards involving equipment, protective barriers (fencing), safety precautions and ground conditions.
Previously, from 2011 to 2015, mining inspectors issued 213 orders for training violations under Section 11 of the mining regulations.
The ministry said many of these orders could have resulted in serious injuries to workers in mines, mining plants and at exploration sites.
Often at mining inquests, the coroner’s jury have raised the issue that inspectors should focus on training requirements at mine sites.
