Mine safety programs paying off, says OMA

Ontario’s mining industry has improved safety drastically over the past decade, according to the Ontario Mining Association (OMA).

Since 1999, the mining industry has received an overhaul in safety programs, equipment and training. With more than $2,200 per employee being invested annually on safety training, workers are highly trained before they enter a mine.

The mining sector in Ontario saw a 46% improvement for time lost due to injury over the past nine years; the rate declined from 1.3 per 200,000 hours in 1999 to 0.7 per 200,000 hours in 2007.

Total medical aid saw a 36% improvement with injuries requiring medical aid falling from 11 per 200,000 hours in 1999 to 7.1 per 200,000 hours in 2007.

Ontario’s mining sector also saw a 27% decrease in the severity of on-the- job injuries, judged by the time it takes an injured worker to return to work. The number of days taken off in 1999 totalled 180 compared with 132 days in 2007.

The mining industry has a variety of safety inspection programs that are jointly responsible for the improvement, including: the OMA’s serious incident program, begun in 1999, its program of Internal Responsible System (IRS) audits, started in 2000, and the Ministry of Labour’s Common Core skills training program. Input from unions and the Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association have also helped enhance safety.