Over the course of a week, the Ministry of Labour has issued 62 work orders against Vale regarding issues with its mining operations in Sudbury, reported Sudbury.com.
On Oct. 7, inspectors from the ministry of Labour issued 39 orders – including four stop work orders – after touring Vale's Copper Cliff North Mine.
The ministry required Vale to address the four stop work orders before the company could resume production at the mine.
Those orders were for maintaining equipment in good condition; maintaining a protective device in good condition, including guarding and safety stops; assessing the structural integrity of a particular area of the mine; and replacing side wall liners along with providing locking devices for feeder gates.
On Oct. 12, the Ministry of Labour issued an additional 23 orders, including three stop work orders, related to Vale's Coleman Mine operations.
The stop work orders required Vale to meet requirements for barricades, fencing and signs.
Vale was also issued stop work orders to examine unsupported ground conditions and to address issues with guarding.
The 23 orders the ministry issued on Oct. 12 were in addition to 24 work orders an inspector made after a Sept. 29 tour of Coleman Mine following an anonymous complaint from a worker.
According to media reports, the complaint was about a “lack of cleanliness and maintenance” at the mine's latrines.
In a statement to Sudbury.com, Vale spokesperson Danica Pagnutti said the company has been addressing the Ministry of Labour's concerns, and has already complied with many of the orders.
“We are currently working on those that are outstanding by the dates requested by the Ministry,” the statement said. “In fact, at Coleman Mine, production work has been halted today (Friday, Oct. 14) and is entirely focused on housekeeping and addressing the items presented by the Ministry.
This action reinforces that safety is, and will always be, the most important priority at our operations.”
Sudbury.com attempted to contact representatives with the United Steelworkers Local 6500, but they were not immediately available for comment.
