Ontario commits to improving mining safety
After the initial findings of Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer’s safety review were released, Ontario agreed to act on key initiatives in the progress report.
The province is improving the health and well-being of workers in underground mines by committing to the preliminary work of the advisory group, which includes agreements to:
· Improve visibility of workers through use of high visibility apparel
· Develop a mining health database that will serve as a valuable tool to track incidents of illness, exposure to a number of carcinogenic substances, helping to prevent miners from being exposed to unsafe levels and assist in the development of improved health and safety rules
· Create a sharper focus on hazards to improve health and well-being in the new training standards for joint health and safety committees
· Fund a study to be completed by Laurentian University that will look for ways to reduce loss of feeling in the feet triggered by continuous use of vibrating machinery
The Ontario government said protecting the health and safety of all the province’s workers is a key part of the plan to build up Ontario.
The mining safety review final report will be available to the province early next year.
