TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – The Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) this week recognised several local mining operations for their health and safety achievements at the fifty-third yearly Mine Safety Awards banquet, in the provincial capital Victoria.
The awards were presented to mines and quarries within the province that had the lowest injury-frequency rate last year.
New Gold’s New Afton mine and Copper Mountain Mining’s eponymous Copper Mountain mine – two of the five new mines that had opened in the province since 2011 – received awards for having the lowest injury-frequency rates.
The Large Underground Mines Award was presented to New Gold for the New Afton mine being the underground mine that had the lowest injury frequency rate.
The Edward Prior Award – presented to operations with 200 000 to one-million worker hours and the lowest injury-frequency rate – was presented to Copper Mountain and Thompson Creek Mining for the Endako operation.
“These awards underscore the progress made in health and safety practices in BC’s mining sector, while recognising those companies that are setting an example of how to be successful, while upholding health and safety standards,” Energy and Mines Minister and Minister Responsible for Core Review Bill Bennett said in thanking the companies for the important work they do and for their commitment to keeping workers safe.
Last year saw a decrease in the total estimated injury rate at mines in BC, as well as a decrease in the number of days lost to injury.