Worker suffered cuts, broken bone
Goldcorp Canada has pleaded guilty and has been fined $100,000 after an incident in which a mine worker was injured by a haulage car.
On Oct. 13, 2013, workers were performing manual tasks at the Campbell Complex Mine near Balmertown in the Red Lake District, Ont. The tasks included loading haulage cars which were on a battery-operated locomotive on tracks. Loading was performed using a diesel scoop tram.
During the course of the shift, the haulage cars were returning to the work area where two workers were preparing oversized ore chunks for a blast and a third worker was next to the scoop tram. As the haulage cars were returning and approaching the crew, one of the workers realized the haulage cars were not stopping.
The worker attempted to pull his co-worker standing by the scoop tram away from the area, but was hit by the haulage cars and pinned between a haulage car and the scoop tram. As a result of the incident, the worker suffered cuts and a broken bone.
Goldcorp failed as an employer to take all precautions reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker, as provided for under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Specifically, the company failed to take the reasonable precaution of ensuring that the operator of the vehicle had a clear view of the path of travel. As a result the company pleaded guilty and was fined $100,000.
In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
