The Occupational Health and Safety Branch of
the Department of Government Services continues monitoring the
effects of silica dust exposure at mining properties in Labrador
West with a Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct a medical
x-ray audit involving the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOCC) and
Wabush Mines.
"Over the last 30 years, there have been
numerous studies and measures put in place for silica dust
management to reduce the instances of silicosis in the workforce
at both IOCC and Wabush Mines," said the Honourable Harry
Harding, Minister of Government Services. "Silicosis has a
latency period of in excess of 20 years so this is the right
time to conduct a medical x-ray audit to determine if dust
control measures implemented at both properties are working."
Measures to date include a preventive
maintenance program for ventilation systems which is monitored
by Occupational Health and Safety and the establishment of a
tripartite Labrador West steering committee comprised of
representatives from IOCC, Wabush Mines, the United Steelworkers
Union and Occupational Health and Safety. In 2006, the
Provincial Government established the Silica Code of Practice
which outlines precautionary measures to safely work around
silica dust. Section nine of the Code requires a health
surveillance program for employees at IOCC and Wabush Mines
employed in a dust-exposure operation. This program is ongoing.
The RFP will require that the successful
proponent:
- read, interpret, and report chest
X-ray findings from a group of current and former
employees at both IOCC and Wabush Mines (Scully); this
will include new X-rays as well as a review of older,
previously interpreted X-rays;
- verify that the existing silica
related health surveillance programs at both properties
are in conformance with established health surveillance
protocols;
- review existing protocols to ensure
that the hazard communication process results in workers
being fully informed and given the necessary information
and tools for subsequent follow-up; and,
- prepare an information package for
workers involved in the screening process, and
physicians responsible for assessing and treating
workers with pneumoconiosis (i.e. sub-clinical vs.
clinical stages).
"The Occupational Health and Safety Branch is
committed to decreasing the incidents of occupational disease in
this province," said Minister Harding. "The information we will
learn from this audit will be transferrable to other mining
properties thereby enhancing the education and awareness for
workers and medical professions about occupational disease."
Silica dust is a common by-product of mining
and can cause silicosis, a type of pneumoconiosis which causes
thickening and stiffening of the lungs.
The terms of reference are available at