Government Services
January 11, 2010

Mining Company Faces OHS Charges in Grand Falls-Windsor Provincial Court

The Department of Government Services announced today that a mining company has been charged with violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations in relation to an incident that occurred in January 2008.

The incident occurred at the Duck Pond site near Millertown where Teck Resources Limited operates a base metal mine. Following a scheduled blast, the next shift went underground as instructed, with the result being that 18 workers were potentially exposed to toxic gasses. The 18 workers were sent to the hospital in Grand Falls-Windsor for observation or treatment. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Occupational Health and Safety Branch.

The company has been charged with nine violations under the act and regulations which relate generally to its failure as an employer to provide a safe workplace, to ensure that its workers were made familiar with the hazards that may be met by them at the workplace, to provide sufficient ventilation, to undertake regular inspections, and to provide the necessary training and instruction that would ensure the health and safety of its workers.

The first appearance was January 6, 2010, at Provincial Court in Grand Falls-Windsor. The second appearance is scheduled for March 3, 2010.

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Media contact:
Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Department of Government Services
709-729-4860, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca

2010 01 11                   10:00 a.m.