Union chief angered by latest Sudbury mining death

Steelworkers Local 6500 president Rick Bertrand said he was “very angry” after hearing about the death of a 47-year-old miner at Vale's Coleman Mine in Sudbury during the early afternoon of Jan. 29.

“This is unacceptable,” Bertrand, whose union represents Vale miners, said.“The reason why I feel this way is that this is four fatalities (at Vale'sCanadian mines) in seven months — three in Sudbury and one in Thompson(Manitoba)."

Just last week, Vale released the results of an investigation into the June 2011 deaths of 35-year-old Jason Chenier and 26-year-old Jordan Fram at its Stobie Mine.

Bertrand offered his “heartfelt condolences” to the miner's family.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to them,” he said.

The miner, who had 16 years of experience at Vale, has not yet been identified.

He was “fatally injured” at the mine's 4,125 foot level “due to what appears to be some displacement of material from a development heading,” according to a press release issued by Vale.

The miner was found and brought to the surface, where he was pronounced dead.

Ministry of Labour has launched an investigation into the accident.

Ministry spokesperson Matt Blajer said the miner was “loading the face of the rock with explosives from a man-basket,” or a device that lifted him up, when the incident occurred.

The matter is also under investigation by Greater Sudbury Police.

Operations are temporarily suspended at all of Vale's Sudbury mines after the accident.

Two ministry inspectors and a ground control engineer are on the scene.

In the case of Chenier and Fram's deaths, the two parties were unable to come to an agreement about how the investigation should be conducted.

Bertrand said he's not yet sure whether a joint investigation will be launched into the latest death, or whether the union and company will conduct seperate investigations.

More details of the incident were to be released at a press conference Jan. 30.

“We are saddened and devastated by the loss of this employee,” said Kelly Strong, Vale's vice-president of North Atlantic operations and general manager of Ontario operations, in a company release.

“Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to the employee's family, and eveyone who knew and worked with him. Our efforts are now focused on supporting the family and our employees at the mine site, and on understanding exactly what happened.”