The death of an independent contractor in northwestern Ontario has netted a $130,000 fine for Toronto junior gold miner Conquest Resources.
The company was fined July 24 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after a worker drowned on a winter ice road in 2007.
The fine was imposed in an Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay, Justice Raymond Zuliani.
A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the contractor was not given current and accurate information about the thickness of the ice on Sturgeon Lake before the worker drove out to begin ploughing. The worker fell through the ice and drowned. The incident happened at their King Bay project 100 kilometres north of Ignace.
Conquest Resources pleaded guilty under the OHSA for failing to provide information, instruction and supervision to protect the worker's health and safety. The court also imposed a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge which goes toward a special provincial fund to assist victims of crime.
Conquest is exploring for several gold projects at Red Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Smith Lake and Detour Lake in northwestern Ontario.
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