RAPAPORT… A government safety commission in Canada’s Northwest Territories has filed charges against Diavik Diamond Mines following an incident that injured an employee.
The Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) listed nine charges under the Mine Health & Safety Act, claiming Diavik “failed to take every reasonable measure and precaution to protect the health and safety of its employees.” The miner also failed to make sure all supervisors were properly trained in safe work and blasting procedures, the WSCC alleged Wednesday.
The charges stem from a November 2020 incident in which a worker was injured when a slab of rock fell on the excavator machine he was operating, the commission explained. The employee was attempting to move rock after a blast.
The WSCC has charged Diavik Diamond Mines, which is a subsidiary of Rio Tinto; the mine manager; the blasting supervisor; and the shift boss, it said.
All those charged are due to appear in court on January 18.
A Rio Tinto spokesperson told Rapaport News the company could not comment as the matter was an ongoing legal process.
Image: An aerial view of the Diavik diamond mine. (Rio Tinto)
Diavik Faces Charges over Alleged Safety Violations
The Bottom Line
- Canada’s WSCC charged Diavik Diamond Mines with nine violations under the Mine Health & Safety Act related to a 2020 accident.
- Charges include failure to protect employee safety and inadequate supervisor training in safe work and blasting procedures.
- The incident involved a worker injured by falling rock while operating an excavator after a blast; court appearance set for January 18.
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