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.
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