Inspectors looking for hazards involving rock crushing, screening and conveying processes
Ontario will be focusing on safety in the mining industry with an inspection blitz of pits and quarries throughout July. The safety blitz will focus on hazards involving rock crushing, screening and conveying processes.
The biggest hazards at pits and quarries involve equipment such as belt conveyors, rock crushers and vibrating screens used in crushing, screening and conveying, said the Ministry of Labour. Hazards can include poorly maintained equipment, exposure to live electrical equipment and a lack of adequate guarding and conveyor shutdown devices.
Since 2000, eight workers have died and 60 were seriously injured in pits and quarries in Ontario. Two of the deaths and four of the injuries were incidents involving rock crushing, screening and conveying processes, according to the ministry.
During the blitz, mining inspectors will be focusing on these key priorities:
• guarding devices are used to protect workers from moving parts on equipment
• written lockout procedures for equipment are available
• dust control measures are used effectively
• protective hearing devices are being worn.
Ministry of Labour inspectors will target pits and quarries that inspectors have not visited before, where concerns have been noted and where there is poor compliance history.
