This section provides additional background information on hazards as well as tools and resources relevant for those hazards.

Ground control

Workers face health and safety risks from hazards found in mines that can result in occupational diseases or fatal injuries. Ground instability has been one of the biggest causes of fatalities in underground mines in Ontario. Since 2000, 10 workers have died and nearly 50 workers have been critically injured in underground mines in Ontario as a result of falls of ground or rockbursts.

Falls of ground or rockbursts occur when rock becomes dislodged from the roof or walls of an underground excavated site. The amount of rock displaced can vary from hundreds of thousands of tonnes of material. If workers happen to be where that occurs, it can lead to severe injuries or fatalities.

As underground mines become older and deeper, they are generally more prone to incidents of ground instability. There are several underground mines in Ontario operating at depths approaching 3,000 metres.

The Mining Health and Safety Program (MHSP) will continue to focus on underground mines through enforcement activities, including those directed towards ground control hazards.

Tools

Resource (video)

Water management

Workers face health and safety risks from hazards associated with the accumulation of water in the workplace. These hazards can result in serious injuries, and even death, to workers.

Three workers died in Ontario mines between 2000 and 2016, and there have been many more significant incidents and occurrences related to water management reported to the Ministry of Labour.

These hazards can be prevented by ensuring:

  • a water management program is developed and maintained in the workplace
  • pumping systems (sumps) have the means to conduct the removal of excess water from the workplace
  • the associated infrastructure related to pumping system is maintained and kept free of obstructions (drain holes, drain lines)
  • there is workplace awareness of how the improper use of water can have very dangerous and catastrophic outcomes
  • the area is adequately barricaded to prevent access. The employer and the supervisor shall not permit any worker to enter that area unless the purpose of the work directly relates to the management and removal of the water, and all reasonable precautions in the circumstances have been taken for the protection of such workers.

Employers are responsible for protecting workers from hazards associated with the improper use or accumulation of water.

Some of the hazards workers could be exposed to include:

  • an unexpected or unannounced run of material caused by the infiltration of water into material handling systems
  • drowning caused while maintaining pumping system or during the clearing of obstructions from a drain hole which then creates very powerful suction through hole
  • musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) injuries caused by hidden hazards underneath accumulated water.

Water has many uses in the underground environment; however, it still remains one of the top hazards associated with this work. Inspectors continue to write numerous orders under Regulation 854 – Mines and Mining Plants, sections 46, 64, 68, and 87. These sections relate to the accumulation of water in the workplace, use of proper barricades to warn workers of hazards, as well as documenting these hazards in the supervisor’s log book.

Water management will continue to be a focus as it has been identified as a serious underground mining hazard.

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Resources

Remote control equipment

Remote control radio technology is widely used to operate equipment in mines. This technology can also be used in close proximity to where the equipment is operating or may be operated at locations that are totally isolated from the equipment (operated from surface control room). One benefit of using remote control technology has been the ability to remove workers from unsafe conditions where risk to personal injury cannot be reduced through other means.

Workers face health and safety risks from hazards associated with remote controlled equipment. Workers can be seriously injured or killed if proper methods and procedures are not utilized when operating this type of equipment.

Between 2000 and 2015, 13 workers died in Ontario mines as a result of incidents involving motor vehicles and mobile equipment. These incidents included remote controlled equipment.

Hazards can include:

  • being struck by, or run over by, equipment
  • crushed between equipment
  • contacting unsecured work platform with equipment
  • equipment runaways.

Remote controlled equipment is a subset of mobile equipment, described in more detail below. Remote controlled and remotely controlled refers to equipment where a person remotely operates equipment with joystick controls. The larger category, mobile equipment, typically means equipment that moves under its own power and has an operator at the wheel, such as trucks, personal carriers and other types of mining related equipment. This equipment may be operated remotely as well, depending on the needs of the owner.

Remote controlled equipment was the focus of the MHSP 2015-2016 provincial initiative.

Tools

Explosives

The quality and safety of explosives and blasting methods have greatly improved over the years. However, serious hazards still exist involving the storage, transport and use of explosives.

Explosives must be stored so as to protect them from the elements and from conditions that could cause degradation and loss of safety and reliability. An explosives storage area must be constructed with safeguards to:

  • minimize inadvertent ignition and
  • provide protection to nearby workers, the general public and structures in case of ignition.

The public must also be protected by ensuring stored explosives are accessible only to authorized workers and used solely for their intended purpose.

Explosives can be dangerous if proper precautions are not taken to protect workers. Only competent and trained workers should handle explosives and extreme care must be used.

Safe practices must include the following:

Maintenance/inspection of explosives magazines and equipment

Magazines (buildings, locations or containers) that store explosives must be maintained in a clean and orderly condition. Mobile equipment and tools must also be maintained in good and safe condition if they are used in processes involving the handling of explosive products.

Explosives inventory methods

Employers must use measures, such as keeping log books, to control inventories of explosive products underground and on the surface. They must also have procedures in place to ensure the oldest explosives are used first. In addition, inspection reports must include details on the quantities of explosives stored at the time of inspection. These measures are required because the quality of explosives can be degraded if they aren’t used in a timely fashion. Age can make them volatile and hazardous. Workers can also be at risk if incompatible products are improperly mixed during blasting operations.

Procedures for safe disposal of damaged explosives

Employers and their Joint Health and Safety Committees develop written procedures for the safe disposal of damaged explosives. These procedures must be communicated to workers and are needed to ensure workers don’t attempt to use damaged explosives. They are also needed so that workers assigned to dispose of them are aware of their condition. Damaged explosives can be dangerous.

Proper handling during transport and use

Employers must develop proper procedures for workers’ handling of explosives when the explosives are being used and transported. The movement of explosives between magazines and workplaces must occur without delay. Vehicles carrying explosives must always have the right of way. Measures must be taken to ensure explosives are never left unattended and/or improperly disposed of.

Ministry reporting requirements

Employers must notify the Ministry of Labour of:

  • the use of explosives and installation of surface explosives magazines
  • any incident involving the mishandling of explosives
  • an uncontrolled or unexpected explosion and any defective explosive products.

Worker training

Any worker that uses or handles explosive products, or who may be affected by their use, must be trained in all the relevant safety procedures. Workers must successfully complete the relevant Common Core Training modules set out in section 11 of the Mining Regulations. The training must ensure all workers are familiar with the appearance of explosive products and the procedures to be followed if any are found in incorrect places.

The hazards associated with explosive contributed to the development of the MHSP provincial explosives enforcement initiative in 2015-2016. Also, hazards associated with explosives contribute to the development of the MHSP regional workplace inspection initiative in 2016-2017 for the eastern region of the province. Inspectors will continue to ensure workers are accredited in the training modules that pertain to the tasks being performed.

Resources

Mobile equipment

Workers can be at risk of injury or even death if hazards involving motor vehicles and mobile equipment exist at underground and surface mines.

Between 2000 and 2016, 13 workers died in Ontario mines as a result of incidents involving motor vehicles and mobile equipment. These incidents included collisions. Mobile equipment has displaced ground control issues as the major source of fatal injuries in underground mining.

These hazards can be prevented by developing traffic management programs that put traffic control policies, measures and procedures in place to protect workers. Such measures can include proper reflective clothing, effective illumination, monitoring work conditions and education and training.

Employers are responsible for protecting workers from motor vehicles and mobile equipment hazards in mines.

Hazards can include workers:

  • being struck by or run over by equipment
  • being crushed between equipment
  • falling off mobile equipment while performing maintenance
  • driving into an unguarded open hole underground.

Inspector orders written under Regulation 854, sections 105, 174 and 263 during the past year suggest that equipment maintenance related to visibility, such as broken or shattered windows, missing mirrors or inoperative lights, must be a focus of mine operators, thus ensuring equipment is safe to operate. Equipment operators should also ensure that the equipment is safe to use. Where required, illumination in work areas should be in place and maintained.

Amendments to section 105.1 require employers to develop a traffic management program in consultation with the Joint Health and Safety Committee or worker health and safety representative if any in the workplace.

The hazards associated with mobile equipment will continue to be a focus of the Ministry of Labour in 2017/2018, including hazards associated with distracted driving.

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Modular training

Modular training is comprised of individual training modules developed by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD) in consultation with industry and the Mining Tripartite Committee (MTC).

Employers must register workers in the appropriate training program. Completed training is accredited by the MAESD as a permanent record of the training.

To ensure a safe workplace for all mine workers, employers are required to develop specific training, based on the Ontario government’s standardized course materials. This is to ensure a safe workplace for all mine workers.

Training programs are required for:

  • hard rock mines such as nickel, copper, gold and diamond mines
  • soft rock mines such as salt and gypsum mines
  • surface mines such as sand and gravel operations and pits and quarries
  • diamond drill exploration sites underground and on surface
  • supervisory training program for mine supervisors.

The training requirements are set out in section 11 of the Mining Regulations.

The Ministry of Labour (MOL) is responsible for enforcing the training requirements at all Ontario mines under the Regulations for Mines and Mining Plants. Proof of this training must be made available by employers to MOL inspectors on request.

During the 41 months from April 1, 2011 and August 20, 2014, inspectors issued 259 orders for training violations under section 11 of the Regulations for Mines and Mining Plants.

The infractions related to many of these orders could have resulted in serious injuries to workers in mines, mining plants and at exploration sites.

Training has also been raised by coroner’s juries at mining inquests as an issue on which Ministry of Labour inspectors should focus.

Mines can prevent incidents by ensuring that proper training programs are developed and maintained by employers. Properly trained workers have a better chance of staying safe on the job.

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Occupational disease

While traumatic fatality incidents in the mining sector have declined substantially over the past several decades, deaths related to occupational illness have not.

Working in a closed underground environment, miners can be exposed to airborne hazards, such as diesel emissions and silica, putting them at higher risk of developing occupational illness.

Recent research revealed that some components of emissions from diesel powered equipment are carcinogenic. Over the past 20 years, significant continuing research has been done to develop filters to eliminate the harmful effects of diesel exhaust and to identify the optimum diesel fuel type for producing the least harmful emissions.

In terms of occupational disease hazards, the Mining Review focused on airborne hazards such as diesel particulate matter and silica in underground mines. It identified opportunities to:

  • raise awareness among workers and employers of the importance of controlling risks to health in underground mines
  • increase understanding of the health effects of exposure to diesel emissions in underground mines and improve controls
  • review and update occupational exposure limits for airborne hazards in underground mines
  • identify and publicize available options for monitoring ventilation in underground mines in order to reduce concentrations of airborne hazards.

Inspector orders written under Regulation 854, sections 183.1, 253, 254, 257, and 266 over the past year suggest that mine operators must focus on controlling dust, maintaining ventilation systems and providing enough ventilation in areas where diesel equipment is operating. Mine operators must ensure that enough ventilation is available to dilute contaminants in the workplace, and that maintenance and good work practices are used to control mining process dusts.

Occupational disease in underground and surface plants will be the focus of a province-wide enforcement blitz for surface and underground mines in July and August 2017. A similar blitz was previously conducted in February and March 2016. The mining program conducted a mining-plant focused inspection during February and March 2017 and occupational disease was be part of the blitz focus.

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