Mining changes some comfort to grieving family – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – June 9, 2016)

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

The mother of a young man killed in a mining accident exactly five years ago says amendments to a mining regulation to make mines safer offer some comfort to her grieving family.

Wendy Fram attended a news conference Wednesday led by the chief prevention officer of Ontario, George Gritziotis, about amendments to Regulation 854 (Mines and Mining Plants) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The amendments relate to risk assessments and requirements for certain high hazards such as water and traffic management, and recording of seismic events. They clarify and enhance requirements regarding conveyors, suggested by the Mining Legislative Review Committee. There are also amendments to requirements for surface diamond drilling reflect changes to training programs approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Fram’s son, Jordan, 26, was killed along with Jason Chenier, 35, on June 8, 2011, at Vale’s Stobie Mine after a run of 350 tons of muck, water mixed with rock and sand. Evidence showed there was excess water in the century-old mine when the fatality occurred.

The death of the young men prompted calls for a mining inquiry and resulted in a mining review. Gritziotis chaired that review, which resulted in 18 recommendations. He said momentum has been built to make mines less hazardous as a result of the review and its recommendations have been implemented faster than would have been the case with an inquiry.

Progress has been made on most of the recommendations and some have been implemented, Gritziotis told the media.

Wendy Fram sat on the committee that conducted the review and today said she approved of the amendments being made to the regulation.

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