The Department of Government Services announced today that Wabush Mines was sentenced in Provincial Court on December 16, 2008, upon pleading guilty to one violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Two charges were laid by the Occupational Health and Safety Branch in February of this year as a result of an investigation into a blasting incident at the site.

On February 17, 2006, two employees working for a contractor on the site were exposed to excessive flyrock which was produced when a scheduled blast was undertaken by Wabush Mines. While there were no injuries reported, considerable physical damage to buildings and equipment occurred.

The company pled guilty to the charge of "failing to ensure that members of the blasting/drilling crew were given the necessary information, instruction and supervision during the drilling and explosive loading process to prevent over-drilling and over-loading the blast holes."

The plea agreement requires the company to pay a fine of $27,500 on the charge, together with a victim fine surcharge of $4,125. The court order also requires a senior company representative to make a presentation at an annual occupational health and safety conference in Gander in May 2009.

The second charge, related to the failure to protect the contracted workers from the hazards presented by the blast, was withdrawn.

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