Vale Inco’s North mine snags safety award

NEW HORIZONS

Vale Inco has pushed industry safety standards yet again, operating for another calendar year without a disabling injury at its North mine, near Sudbury, Ont.

“Our people at the North mine have done an amazing job looking out for themselves and each other — and together have set new standards in safety excellence,” said Ontario Mining Association president of Ontario operations, Fred Stanford, in a statement.

This marks three years without an injury interrupting an employee’s regular duties — an industry milestone.

Toronto-based Vale Inco, a subsidiary of Vale, has gone 1,095 days without an injury at the mine.

Stanford says that a genuine team effort by all employees at the mine was responsible for last year’s safe production.

Last May, the North mine was awarded the John T. Ryan National Safety trophy for 2006.

The award was created in 1941 by Mine Safety Appliances Co. of Canada (MSA Canada) founder John T. Ryan.