The owner-operator of Sudbury area mine has been fined $200,000 for the death of a worker nearly two years ago.
On Monday, Glencore Canada Corporation pleaded guilty for failures as an employer in its role in the death of Richard Pigeau.
The incident took place on October 20, 2015 at Glencore's base metal mine near Sudbury; which produces nickel and copper ore.
“A worker was operating a machine known as a load haul dump, used in the underground operation to move broken rock or ore and while operating the LHD on a ramp, it appeared the bucket of the vehicle made contact with a wall on the right,” reads a statement from the Ministry of Labour.
“The LHD continued to move; the worker was ejected from the operator's compartment and was run over by one of the vehicle's tires. The worker died from the injuries.”
Pigeau was 54.
The Ministry of Labour said its investigation suggested the door to the operator's compartment of the vehicle opened while it was moving down the ramp.
The initial contact with the wall was believed to cause the worker's ejection from the compartment (there were no witnesses).
“The worker was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident although there was a functioning seatbelt in the compartment. The Crown and the company agreed that the worker may have been injured in the incident while wearing the seatbelt but would likely not have been killed,” reads the ministry’s statement.
Glencore guilty plea includes admitting to failing as an employer to provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the safety of the worker, contrary to the Occupational Health and Safety Act - specifically to failing to provide sufficient information regarding the use of the seatbelt while operating the LHD.
The court also imposed a 25% victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act.
The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
