Ministry of Labour issues more than 60 orders to 2 Vale mines in Sudbury

The Ministry of Labour says two Vale mines in Sudbury have been issued more than 60 orders this month.

The ministry said on October 12, 23 orders were issued to Coleman Mine, including three stop work orders. On October 7, 39 orders were issued to the Copper Cliff Mine, including four stop work orders.

A spokesperson with the ministry told CBC news the orders were issued as a result of a proactive visit from a ministry inspector.

Many of the orders have been complied with or are in the process of being complied with, the spokesperson said. The company said it is working to address the outstanding orders.

"In fact, at Coleman Mine, production work has been halted and is entirely focused on housekeeping and addressing the items presented by the ministry," Angie Robson, a spokesperson with Vale said in an e-mail to CBC.

"This action reinforces that safety is, and will always be, the most important priority at our operations."

Below is a list of orders issued for each mine:

Coleman Mine

• removal of flammable refuse (three separate orders issued — all now complied)
• cover/guard open hole conditions (complied)
• meet requirements for barricades, fencing and signs (complied)
• removal of material in front of electrical equipment (complied)
• removal of stored material in front of electrical equipment (complied)
• regular inspections of fire extinguisher (complied)
• protect electrical installations from equipment traffic (complied)
• barricade and hazard signage (complied)
• provide safe access to work areas (complied)
• remove accumulation of dust (complied)
• protect electrical installations from equipment traffic (complied)
• guarding (two separate orders issued — one is complied, the other in the process of compliance — a stop work order was issued until compliance is met)
• examine unsupported ground conditions (complied)
• provider refresher instruction to workers (in progress of being complied)

Copper Cliff Mine

• erect a barricade and signage (complied)
• provide eyewash to protect workers from hazard to dusty conditions (in progress)
• ensure fire extinguisher is property inspected (complied)
• maintain equipment in good condition (complied — a separate stop work order was issued until this met compliance)
• guarding (complied)
• repair guarding (complied)
• repair safety stop (complied)
• maintain a protective device in good condition (a separate stop work order was issued until the guarding orders were complied with — both have been complied with since)
• guarding (two separate orders in addition to previous order — these are in the process of being complied with)
• assess structural integrity of an area (a separate stop work order was issued until this was complied with — both have since been complied)
• remove flammable refuse from an area (complied)
• provide safe access to an area (in progress of compliance)
• repair electrical deficiencies (complied)
• maintain equipment in good condition (complied)
• remove accumulations of dust (complied)
• have a joint health and safety committee worker member inspect an area of the workplace bi-weekly until Nov. 30 (in progress of compliance)
• remove corroded steel duct (complied)
• remove mine power switch (complied)
• clean switch room (complied)
• equipment to meet the requirements of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (in progress of compliance)
• secure face plate of lighting panel (complied)
• report detailing the structural integrity of the structural steel work (in progress of compliance)
• secure fan drive system guard (complied)
• replace side wall liners (in progress of compliance)
• provide locking devices to feeder gates (a separate stop work order was issued until this is complied with)
• fence, cover or guard open shaft conditions (complied)
• provide safe access to water valves (complied)
• replace Salo block (complied)
• provide safe access to work areas (complied)
• meet requirements for barricades, fencing and signs (complied)
• repair air lock system door (complied)
• procedures to be established for pedestrian traffic (complied)