The Ontario government says that it is acting on the early results of the Mining Sector Health, Safety and Prevention Review.
In December 2013, the province asked Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer to undertake a review of the occupational health and safety issues related to the mining sector, focusing first on underground mines. The review involves consultation with labour, industry, academic, health and safety experts, as well as members of the public.
According to the Ministry of Labour Press release, Ontario’s response to the preliminary work of the advisory group includes the following:
Promoting high visibility apparel to increase the visibility of workers; Developing a mining health database that will track incidents of illness, exposure to a number of carcinogenic substances; Increasing the focus on hazards in the new training standards for joint health and safety committees; and Funding a study to be completed by Laurentian University that will look for ways to reduce loss of feeling in the feet triggered by continuous use of vibrating machinery, which is said to put workers at greater risk for slip and fall injuries, especially on high work platforms.
The government says that it expects the review to conclude in early 2015 with a report and recommendations.
The Ministry of Labour’s press release can be found here.
