British Columbia, Ontario mines rewarded

Five mining firms have claimed health and safety awards in Ontario, while in British Columbia, a bevy of companies and individuals earned citations at a provincial competition in mine rescue and first-aid skills.

In Ontario, the Mines and Aggregates Health and Safety Association (MASHA) presented its 1997 Awards of Excellence to:

* Placer Dome’s Campbell mine in Red Lake, for underground mines with fewer than 1,000 employees;

* Falconbridge’s Kidd mining and metallurgical division in Timmins, for underground mines with more than 1,000 employees;

* Luzenac’s Penhorwood talc mine, also in Timmins, for open-pit/surface mines;

* SCR Mines Technology of Sudbury, for mine contractors; and * St. Lambert Drilling’s contract operations in Ontario, for diamond drill contractors.

Winning companies are those that complete the year with the lowest accident frequency in their category. “Winning these awards demands a commitment to health and safety throughout the company,” says Ric deMuelles, MASHA’s acting general manager.

At the provincial mine rescue and first-aid competitions, held recently in Victoria, B.C., more than 400 spectators watched 17 teams display their skills in simulated rescue situations.

The event saw the team from Highland Valley Copper claim the provincial surface champion honors, whereas the Sullivan mine team won in the underground category and the Sullivan concentrator’s contingent led all 3-person miners’ first-aid teams.

Other winners were:

* Myra Falls mine, Barry Abbott Memorial Trophy, best underground team “at the bench” (equipment assembly and testing skills);

* Ivan Forjan, Quinsam coal mine, United Steelworkers Mine-Mill Trophy, best underground mine-rescue coordinator;

* Wilf Penny, Myra Falls, best bench technician;

* Line Creek coal mine, Maurice Boise Memorial Trophy, surface bench proficiency;

* Highland Valley Copper, highest non-aggregate points award; and * Larry Carlson, Sullivan concentrator, Kathy Lofstrom Memorial Trophy for best first-aid coach.

The championships were judged by industry personnel and government mines inspectors, along with St. John Ambulance and Thompson Nicola Training staff.

“The tremendous dedication and work to achieve this level of expertise is commendable,” said B.C. Energy and Mines Minister Dan Miller.