Estevan coal mine fined $120K after worker falls 6 metres out of excavator

Worker seriously injured, company pleaded guilty to breaking health and safety rules

Image | estevan coal dragline

Caption: A dragline works in coal pits in front of the SaskPower Shand Power Station south of Estevan, Sask. (Troy Fleece/The Canadian Press)

A coal-mining company has pleaded guilty to breaking occupational health and safety rules after a worker was seriously injured.
On July 10, Prairie Mines and Royalty ULC pleaded guilty after a worker fell approximately six metres out of a dragline excavator at its mine near Estevan, Sask., in 2015. The worker was seriously injured.
The worker tripped on a footrest inside the cabin of the excavator and fell out.
Prairie Mines, which also operates as Westmoreland Coal Company, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure a safe environment for its workers.
The company was fined $85,714, with a surcharge of $34,285.