Inquest into Fram, Chenier mining deaths called for April 8 – by Ben Leeson (Sudbury Star – January 7, 2015)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Briana Fram knows the coroner’s inquest into the death of her brother, Jordan Fram, and Jason Chenier will a difficult time for her family, but hopes it will result in a safer workplace for those who work in mines.

Dr. Reuven Jhirad, deputy chief coroner of the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario, announced Tuesday that an inquest will be held into the deaths of Fram, 26, and Chenier, 35, both killed at the 3,000-foot level of Vale’s Stobie Mine when they were overcome by a run of muck on June 8, 2011.

Inquests into workplace deaths are mandatory in Ontario. “With tragedy, often good emerges,” Briana Fram said. “We’re hopeful that this inquest will bring results that will prevent deaths in the future and protect the lives of miners and people that work in mines.”

Dr. David Eden will preside as inquest coroner. Susan Bruce and Roberta Bald will be counsel to the coroner. The inquest will be at the Sudbury Courthouse, 155 Elm St. in Sudbury, beginning on April 20 at 9 a.m. and is expected to last 10 days, according to the chief coroner’s office.

The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding the Stobie accident and the inquest jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths from occurring.

“We’re always hopeful that good will come of these things,” Briana Fram said. “In the past, inquests have occurred and they have made changes, so we remain positive that changes will occur with this inquest.

“June 8 and the days that followed remain some of the darkest, most difficult times for our family. We look forward to having this chapter completed and closed in our lives and having those questions answered for our family.”

No criminal charges were laid in the Stobie accident, but 15 Occupational Health and Safety charges were laid against Vale and one of its supervisors.
In September 2013, Vale pleaded guilty to three charges and was fined $350,000 on each count for failing to take reasonable precautions to prevent water accumulation in the mine.

It was the largest fine ever levied under the act.

Six other charges against the company and six against the supervisor were dropped.

An inquest is also expected into the death of Stephen Perry, 47, who was killed at the Coleman mine when a 14-ton piece of rock broke from the wall at the 4,215-foot level of the main ore body on Jan. 29, 2012.

For the original source of this article, click here: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/01/06/inquest-into-fram-chenier-mining-deaths-called-for-april