Ontario commits to improving mining safety

Province takes action after release of mining safety review

After the initial findings of Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer’s safety review were released, Ontario has agreed to act on the 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 the visibility of workers through increased promotion 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, which are made up of workers and management

· 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, which puts workers at greater risk for slips and falls injuries, especially on high work platforms

The Ontario government has said protecting the health and safety of miners – and all of 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.

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