90 Years of Mine Rescue

Page 1

TIMMINS, ON

JUNE 3-4 2020

400+ EXHIBITS

5,223 ATTENDEES FROM OVER

9 COUNTRIES

CANADA UNITED STATES 2020 SOUTH AFRICA Canadian Mining Expo AUSTRALIA will be our POLAND BIGGEST and BEST. NEW ZEALAND For Event Overview go to GERMANY BELGIUM www.canadianminingexpo.com Page 2 AUSTRIA

CONGRATULATIONS!

AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN THE

INTERNATIONAL MINE RESCUE COMPETITION

FOR YOUR DEDICATION, HARD WORK AND PROFESSIONALISM.

w w w . g msm i ne r e p a i r . c om

Page 13

Congratulations to Ontario Mine Rescue, celebrating both its 90th anniversary and the 70th anniversary of the Ontario Mine Rescue Competitions.

Since its creation in 1929, Ontario Mine Rescue has established a reputation for high standards in training, equipment and emergency response, and serves as a role model for training and safety programs for mine rescue organizations across Canada and around the world.

The mine rescue competitions provide intensive learning opportunities, test emergency response capabilities and ensure that mine rescue volunteers across Ontario are trained to the same high standards.

The Ontario government is a strong supporter of the mining and mineral exploration sector, and I’m proud to say that the province is a global leader in mineral exploration and production.

The sector directly supports 26,000 jobs and indirectly supports about another 50,000 jobs.

Due to the commitment of the mines and the highly skilled rescue teams, mining is one of the safest industries in the province and Ontario is one of the safest mining jurisdictions in the world.

On behalf of the Government of Ontario, I would like to salute Ontario mines and their rescue teams for their hard work and dedication in keeping our men and women safe.

Greg Rickford Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines

Page 24

August 27, 2019 This year marks a significant milestone in the storied history of the Ontario Mine Rescue program. Ninety years ago, the program was created to ensure that all mines in the province had the people, equipment and facilities necessary to respond to an underground emergency.

Like mine rescue programs around the world, Ontario’s was born out of tragedy. The 1928 Hollinger Mine Fire that claimed the lives of 39 miners and opened the eyes of mine operators to the difficulty they had with rescue efforts in expansive underground mine workings.

From it’s inception in 1929, the Ontario Mine Rescue program has relied on the commitment and dedication of over 13,000 volunteer responders. In addition to their full time work in support of mine production, these men and women take on the additional responsibility of study and training in the field of mine rescue and underground emergency response. When emergencies occur in an underground mine, it is these mine workers that have the knowledge of the workplace and the desire to assist their fellow miners.

On behalf of our Mine Rescue Officers and the staff of the Ontario Mine Rescue program, thank you to the mine rescue volunteers, past and present, for your contribution to ensuring the safety of miners across the province.

Ted Hanley VP, Ontario Mine Rescue Workplace Safety North

235 Cedar Street, Sudbury ON, P3B 1M8 Canada

Shawn Rideout Chief Mine Rescue Officer Workplace Safety North

T 705 671 6360

Tim Ebbinghaus Chief Emergency Services Officer Workplace Safety North

workplacesafetynorth.ca/minerescue

Page 35

Honouring 90 Years

of Ontario Mine Rescue Publisher’s Note Glenn Dredhart

In this issue of Mining Life and Exploration News, we celebrate Ontario Mine Rescue’s 90th anniversary and acknowledge the contribution and commitment of mining companies, and their mine safety personnel to delivering world-class, safetyconscious workplaces.

Ontario Mine Rescue was born in the aftermath of the tragic Hollinger Mine Fire of 1928 when 39 miners perished in Timmins.

Later that year, a Royal Commission into the causes of the Hollinger fire led to the establishment in 1929 of Ontario Mine Rescue to train and prepare mine rescuers for responding to emergencies. The first mine rescue station was set up in Timmins, Ontario.

Shortly after mine rescue stations were established in Sudbury and Kirkland Lake.

Over the years, the Ontario Mine Rescue system evolved both in the number of mine rescue stations and mine rescue techniques.

Today there are 8 district mine rescue stations across Ontario and 32 substations located at every operating underground mine. Over the years Mine Rescue experience grew from other mining tragedies like the East Malartic Fire (1947), the McIntyre Fire (1965) and the Falconbridge rockburst (1984) provided important lessons that improved training, technology and expanded mine rescue to cover events other than fires.

In 1950 Ontario initiated an annual Mine Rescue Competition as a way of keeping the mine rescue teams well trained and ready to respond to mining emergencies. This year marks the 70th anniversary Page 46

of the Ontario Mine Rescue Competitions.

The competitions are held annually at the district and provincial levels. Every two years an international mine rescue competition is held.

Mine Rescue Competitions serve as a training and teaching opportunity. All the rescue teams from every mine in the province are invited to participate. It’s a way for the mine rescue teams to put into practice the standards and protocols for carrying out rescues to ensure that high level of standards are shared across the province.

The mine rescue teams are composed of volunteers.

Over the past 90 years, Ontario Mine Rescue has evolved as lessons learned from mine rescue operations provided valuable insight for future endeavours.

The 1947 East Malartic Fire marked a major turning point for Ontario Mine Rescue as teams from Timmins, Kirkland Lake and Sudbury responded to a call to help fight a mine fire in Malartic, QC. It was the first and only time Ontario Mine Rescue teams responded to an out-of-province emergency. While working together, it became evident each district had different training and maintenance standards. As a result, the position of Senior Mine Rescue Officer was created to ensure province-wide standards in mine rescue training and equipment maintenance were established and maintained.

In 1965 another mine fire in Timmins, this one at the McIntyre Mine, forced the organization to make another change. The underground distance rescue teams had to travel to reach the fire was so great that the twohour McCaa breathing apparatus was not sufficient to allow them time to fight the fire. In 1966, after investigating and testing different apparatus, the BG174 was purchased to allow for a four-hour capability.

Ontario Mine Rescue took on added responsibility in 1984 after four miners were trapped and killed in a rockburst at Falconbridge No. 5 Shaft near Sudbury.

The Stevenson Commission recommended that the organization’s mandate be expanded to conduct training in and respond to non-fire emergencies. Training on non-fire rescue equipment began shortly after.

In January 2001, responsibility for Ontario Mine Rescue was transferred to the Mines and Aggregates

Safety and Health Association, now a part of Workplace Safety North (WSN). The program was modernized with state-of-the-art equipment including the Drager BG4 self-contained breathing apparatus.

Standardized competency based training programs were developed to ensure consistent delivery of information to mine rescue teams across the province.

These and other developments have made Ontario Mine Rescue a role model for the establishment of

training and safety programs for mine rescue organizations in other provinces and countries.

Join us as we celebrate and honour the 90th anniversary of Ontario Mine Rescue and the 70th anniversary of the Ontario Mine Rescue Competitions.

As Publisher of Mining Life and Exploration News, I’m proud to know so many men and women who have dedicated themselves to this important profession. Everyone deserves to go home safely after a hard day’s work.

Page57 Page

Ontario Mine Rescue born from ashes

1928 Hollinger Mine Fire

By: Frank Giorno

The Hollinger Mine Fire started around 9 a.m. on Friday morning February 10, 1928 on the 550 level in an unused stope, No. 55A east of the Number 12 crosscut, where garbage had been piling for two years.

The dry garbage included, sawdust, wooden dynamite boxes, parafin paper, fuse ends. One witness said he saw carbide from Page 68

miners lamps dumped in the stope. About 900 car loads of rubbish and waste were unloaded at the location. The pile was estimated to be 12 feet wide, 100 feet long and 45 feet deep.

Smoke and poisonous gas from the fire spread through the 550 foot level and then through the stopes and raises above to the 425 foot and below to the 675 foot level.

Two foremen, George Pond and Godfrey Johnson were notified by a cage tender named Vaillancourt of the fire and they immediately met with mechanical foreman Alfred Prout.

At one point Prout tried to put out the fire at the 550-level, but that proved futile.

Pond in the meantime went to the surface to discuss with General Mines Superintendent C.W. Williams, what should be done. At 9:20 a.m. the decision was made to immediately evacuate the employees out of the mine.

A total of 921 men reported to work at the Hollinger that day.

Most miners were located and brought to the surface and safety escaping via little-used passageways and exits.

By noon all miners were safe except for 59 who were missing and two who were confirmed as dead.

Distraught family members gathered by the shaft head to look for husbands, fathers and sons. Timmins was devastated by the news.

The search for the miners was halted at 5 p.m. on Friday because the smoke had become too dense and too toxic to continue. Calls for help were placed to the Toronto Fire Department and also to the Unites States Bureau of Mines.

On the morning of Saturday, February 11, an experienced mine rescue team from Pennsylvannia had boarded a steam-engined train from Pittsburgh, bound for Timmins. On the train was George McCaa, the Bureau’s Chief of Primary Instruction, and the inventor of the McCaa breathing apparatus which enabled rescuers to enter Cont’d on Pg. 8

Newmont Goldcorp Porcupine’s Mine Rescue Competition Team: Overall Runner-up and Team Firefighting winners at the 70th Ontario Mine Rescue Provincial Competition in Red Lake June 2019.

For decades, the term “Mine Rescue” has been synonymous with courage and legendary heroism. Thanks to the select few who are willing to risk their own lives to save the lives of others.

In recognition of the tremendous effort of those gallant mine rescuers who have given of themselves to bring to safety others, Newmont Goldcorp Porcupine salutes you.

NYSE: NEM TSX: NGT www.newmontgoldcorp.com Cont’d from Pg. 6

Page 9

Train from Pittsburgh, arrives in record time, 21 hrs Cont’d from Pg. 6

areas poisoned by noxious fumes.

The train from Toronto arrived on Saturday morning carrying Toronto firefighters, officials from The Canadian Gas Company and a couple of mining inspectors. They had brought with them three McCaa breathing apparatuses.

The rescuers, equiped with the McCaa breathing apparatus, ventured into the mine at 1 p.m. on Saturday and returned to the surface an hour and half later at 2:30 p.m. with seven rescued miners.

A second rescue trip located miner George Zolob, a Romanian immigrant, who informed the rescuers of the location of 11 other trapped miners. The hearty Romanian became a real life symbol of resilence and determination - a bright spot in an otherwise tragic event.

The train from Pittsburgh, arrived at 6:20 a.m. on Sunday February 12 in record time. The train made the 1,000 mile (1,600 km) trip in 21 hrs. Shortly after the team from Pittsburgh arrived, the mine managers and the rescue teams decided to clear the mine passages of toxic smoke and gases by using brattice cloth and fans to ventilate the noxious gases out of the mine passages.

When the smoke had cleared from the 550 foot level, the rescue crew quickly isolated a powder magazine, using brattice cloth barriers, a couple of hundred feet from where the fire was burning. Between Page 810

11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. they battled the blaze with high pressure water hoses, crews battled the stubborn fire all through the night.

As the air cleared, the grim task of recovering and removing the bodies of the miners who perished was carried out. Two bodies were recovered from the powder house, five from the 550 foot level and three from the 800 ft level.

By 5 p.m. on Monday February 13 the 39th miner who died during the Hollinger Fire was brought to the surface.

The fire was finally extinquished on February 14, four days after it had started.

On the morning of Monday February 13, Premier G.H. Ferguson appointed Mining Court Judge T.E. Godson to head a Royal Commission into the causes of the Hollinger fire and to make recommendations on how to prevent such catastrophes and also how to improve mine rescue operations.

“The Inquiry will be as thorough and far-reaching as possible,” said

Premier Ferguson.

“It is absolutely essential for the lives and safety of the men who are going underground, that they have the fullest assurance of every possible protection against accident or disaster,” the Premier added.

“Our hope is that a thorough and exhaustive inquiry will find the causes of the disaster and the means for guarding against its occurrence,” Premier Ferguson stated.

Two other inquiries would also investigate the Hollinger Fire - a Coroner’s Inqest would determine the cause of the deaths. An investigation was also launched by the Hollinger Company.

Among the the recommendations of the Royal Commission was the creation of Ontario Mine Rescue.

It came into existence in 1929. For 90 years the Ontario Mine Rescue system improved how mining emergencies would be conducted in Ontario.

Mine Rescue

Honouring the Past, Present & Future

1970s

1980s

1990s

FIVE 2000s

2010s

DECADES OF MINE RESCUE

Ontario Mine Rescue Competition

Provincial Winners: 2013, 1979 District Winners: 2014, 2013, 2011, 2008, 2007, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1991, 1990, 1988, 1986, 1985, 1979, 1972

2019 Active Roster

Jonathan Anderson, Todd Audit, Riley Beamish, Georges Bellemare, Michael Bennett, Daniel Blanchard, Brennen Boily, Jennifer Boyce, Kyle Buckoll, Heather Deschene, Patrick Desmarais, Philip Doucette, Steve Dugas, Shaun Faucher, Glen Finnila, Matt Foy, Shane Fris, Randy Gagnon, Justin Gourley, Daniel Guillemette, Paul Haapakoski, Timothy Howson, Kevin Labelle, Stewart Labine, Daniel Lapointe, David Lerikos, Gesse Little, Kyle Mallette, Maurice Maltais, Aaron Martyn, Matthew McCorriston, Steve McEvoy, Sam McGinn, Iain McKillip, Michael Mitchell, Danny Morin, Cody Nenonen, Joel Numainville, Ben Ollila, Ryan Peirce, Troy Richards, Robert Riva, Shawn Rivest, Corey Schneider, Danny Schonfeldt, Clint Scripnick, Ivan Smikalow, Mikka Spehar, Keiran Swanton, Andrew Tull and Marc Villars.

Page Page 11 9

By Kevin Vincent

While the Hollinger Mine fire of 1928 is widely regarded as the event that gave birth to modern mine rescue, the concept of safety and emergency response measures, albeit far removed from today’s practices, was in evidence long before 1928.

The Canadian Mining Institute (known today as the Canadian Institute of Mining) was formed 31 years after Canada was founded.

The Institute was incorporated in 1898 by an Act of the Parliament of Canada as the Canadian Mining Institute. In 1920, it became the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and in 1990, the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.

CIM’s members, convened from industry, academia and government, help shape, lead and connect Canada’s mining industry, domestically and across the globe.

By 1912, sixteen years before the Hollinger Mine disaster, the CIM was fighting with American regulators and urging the Canadian government to persuade American manufacturers to allow mine rescue equipment to enter Canada without duties and surcharges.

At the time, rescue equipment was deemed to be made “wholly or in part of iron and steel, not otherwise specified, and as such is subject to a duty of 15% (if of British origin), 25% if International, and as much as 27.5% depending on the country of origin.”

Mining companies at that time were eager to get their hands on rescue equipment but most of it was made in Germany, and therefore subject to the 27.5% tariff.

A representative of the CIM argued Page 10 12

This 1917 example of the Draeger “Self Contained Breathing Apparatus” became the first safety apparatus demonstrated at the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. that “Mining machinery of this nature or class made in Canada is of course, duty-free, so are lifeboats and life-saving apparatus imported by various societies to encourage the saving of human life.”

This was a multi-year struggle for the CIM. In 1920 the CIM argued with the government of Canada that the equipment should be put on the tariff-free list. It wasn’t. Authorities argued that they could not act on the request to classify mine rescue equipment under “life-saving apparatus” and one official is quoted as saying: “Machinery not manufactured in Canada, which would be a simple way of getting around a difficulty, if there is one, the request will be laid before the Tariff Commission when appointed, as a change in the tariff would be required to meet the views of the Institute.”

Newspaper editors decried the response as a “fine example of bureaucratic red tape”.

Mining companies could, in fact, apply to the government for a rebate of the import duty by sending

a letter to Ottawa. As one editor wrote: “To the mere outsider, it would appear the simplest thing in the world to make a ruling that would settle the question and satisfy everybody. Since this is not so, importers must be content to wait until the matter has received the consideration of the tariff commission, which has yet to be appointed.”

Years later, in 1916, a miner was working a stope underground when the platform he was standing on gave way sliding him into the stope and he was buried alive.

Remarkably, the rock that assembled around him landed in such a way that it neither killed him, nor broke any of his bones.

A two-hour rescue effort, done mostly by hand, managed to free the man from his frightening ordeal. The CIM used the incident from the Acme Mine in Timmins to again press the government to make changes so rescue equipment could be brought in tarifffree, especially for smaller mines.

Their plea again fell on deaf ears.

Page Page 1311

Timmins mine rescue volunteers – 1929

Investigations into the Hollinger Mine Fire and Recommendations By: Frank Giorno

The horrific Hollinger Mine Fire was a watershed moment in the Ontario mining industry. The tragic event led to dramatic and improved mine safety and the creation of Ontario Mine Rescue.

Mine safety was a concern long before the 1928 Hollinger Fire, but it took the magnitude of the tragedy for improvements to be made.

Right after the fire, a coroner’s inquest and a Royal Commission examined the causes of the Hollinger Fire and recommendations were made for preventing future fires.

The coroner’s inquest held in Timmins found that the Hollinger Mine was grossly negligent for having allowed the accumulation of flammable waste underground.

In the first report on the causes of the Hollinger Fire released in May, 1928 Royal Commission headed

by T.E. Godson found a breakdown in the chain of command lead to the improper accumulation of waste on level 550 setting Page 12 14

up the conditions that started the Great Hollinger Fire of 1928.

Godson found, for example, orders calling for a layer of rock to be placed over flammable waste were not followed. The exposed waste provided the right condition for the fire to start. Godson also found that some mine captains did not fully understand the regulations. The miners who were aware of the waste pile didn’t understand it was a dangerous situation and never reported it to management.

The greatest contribution to improving mine safety came with the second Royal Commission report on September 28, 1928. The Commission made 15 recommendations on how to prevent mine fires and manage mining rescue operations.

Fire Proof Underground Structures and Removal of Flammable Rubbish Godson called for the use of fireproof underground structures and the removal of flammable waste to the surface. Explosives were to

be stored above ground and only what was required for the days work brought underground.

Warning Systems Since it was impossible to warn all men personally, a warning system using the release of stench gas to let workers know of an emergency was recommended by Godson.

Mine Rescue The chief recommendation called for the creation of a mine rescue station in Timmins, Kirkland Lake and Sudbury Ontario.

In 1929 the Workmen’s Compensation Board passed Regulation 98 which created Mine Rescue Stations and with mine rescue officers to over see training across the province. Today, the responsibilities for mine rescue in Ontario are set out in Regulation 854 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The first mine rescue station was opened in Timmins, in 1929. Soon other stations were also opened in Sudbury and Kirkland Lake.

The Timmins Mine Rescue Station

was equipped with everything recommended by the Godson Commission including breathing apparatus to enable rescuers to battle underground fires.

The mine rescue stations would provide training and support to all the mine rescue teams for each operating underground mines.

All Ontario underground mines were to have equipment for detecting toxic chemicals and for successfully undertaking rescue operations. It was the responsibility of the mine rescue station to train men in carrying out rescue operations and maintain rescue equipment.

Training was to be standardized so that each mine rescuer received the same training and could respond to any emergency.

In 1930, the first Ontario Mine Rescue Manual was produced and distributed to mine rescue teams. Today, the Ontario Mine Rescue Manual is available on line through Workplace Safety North.

The lessons learned from the Godson Commission are things that many miners take for granted today.

The Hollinger disaster highlighted the need for serious safety changes in mining in Ontario. The recommendations in the Royal Commission into the Hollinger Fire provided that basis for improved safety and response to mining emergencies.

Page 13 15

mine rescue’s

unknown heroes

By Kevin Vincent

Powerful excerpts from the Godson inquiry into the Hollinger Mine Disaster.

Environment moulds character.

Tragic circumstances evolve heroes. I vividly remember Fred Jackson, quietly and unostentatiously telling his story of conflict with nature’s forces. Without exaggeration, or boastfulness, he recited how he and his four companions retreated from one vantage point to another, slowly and stubbornly backing away from the fumes of the deadly gas; how he turned on the air and directed it against a plank to cause the current to rebound; connected lengths of hose in an attempt to blow the smoke away; and how he cut his smock in four pieces and unselfishly gave his companions a piece to place over their mouths.

If you have ever been in a courtroom setting, as I have many times, there are moments when your heart begins pounding uncontrollably. A jury is about to render a verdict; a victim is about to describe their ordeal; a judge is about to pass sentence; a defendant is told to stand for the verdict; yet another is when a coroner is about to make recommendations after an inquest. They are breathtaking moments that even seasoned lawyers will admit are lifealtering.

And then Zolob’s determination to break through the impenetrable barrier of smoke and win his way to the surface. What took place between Jackson and Zolob at that Page 14 16

critical moment is best told as Jackson gave it. Jackson said: My light was only a light about half an inch. Zolob put it into his lamp and fixed his lamp and got a light, put his pack on his back, took a piece of blasting stick about four feet long, and he said ‘I go try.’ I says, ‘God bless you’. He says, ‘I try go out.

Maybe I die. Maybe not.’ I says, ‘Don’t go George!’. He says, ‘Oh yes, I go’. And he got up and set off down the crosscut.

Jackson’s heart-wrenching description of the moments that he and George Zolob were making life or death decisions is, without question, the most compelling content of the Godson Commission report into the 1928 Hollinger Mine disaster.

As Godson described it: “Maybe I die. Maybe not!” Failure means death; success, life to himself and his companions. The die was cast. The courage was there and Zolob fought his way to the light of day. Jackson’s resourcefulness, reflecting the motto of the St. John Ambulance Corps, of which he was a member, Pro Fide, pro Utilitote Hominum, and Zolob’s strength and determination, accomplished the seemingly impossible.

And then Vaillancourt, the cage tender! The smoke was seen, the

Photo-George Zolob

signal given. Up went the cage to investigate, and then to report to surface. Down again to give warning. And so, up and down with his message of warning until he lost control.

Godson continues to elaborate on the men who, without fear, risked their lives to save others.

Fred Poulin, the shift boss, hunting his men; courting death; a duty to be done. George Pond, the foreman, who thought of his men, and not of himself. And so many more wonderfully courageous men, it was my privilege to hear as witnesses. The mine manager, officials and workmen, all ready and anxious to make the descent; not a refusal; not a hesitant among them; a tribute to the manhood of the North, made sturdy, strong and true by their contact with Nature’s forces and their fellow man.

CIL & CIP Gold Leaching Screens



Interstage Screens



Shaker Screens



12% Extended Screen life cycle due to tightest screen slot tolerances in the industry

Specifications: 

Made from 304 or 316 SS



Great abrasion and corrosion resistance



Custom designed to specific requirements



No air needed for screen surface cleaning



Manufactured in Canada

In appreciation of Ontario Mining Rescue, Congratulations on your 90th Anniversary!

Our Office:

7524 Bath Rd. Mississauga, ON Canada L4T 1L2

Replacement Strainer Baskets



Large Diameter One-Piece Construction

Specializing in:

Interstage Screen Fabrication

Industry Leaders in Custom Wedge Wire Fabrication and Engineering

Represented by:

233 Radisson Ave, Chelmsford ON, P0M1L0 O: 705.419.2404 E: Sales@Triotek.ca W: www.Triotek.ca

www.federalscreen.com Page 17

Malartic Fire served as major turning point for Ontario Mine Rescue By: Frank Giorno

The East Malartic gold mine, located about 70 km east of Rouyn Noranda, began operations in 1938, and proved to be a highly productive gold mine. World War 2 slowed production, but by 1947 the mine was increasing output and work resumed on completing a fourth shaft.

On April 24, 1947 a fire broke out shortly after midnight on the 10th level. The mine was 1,760 feet deep.

Although the cause of the fire was attributed to a tossed cigarette, the true source was never identified.

Sixteen miners attempting to flee the fire tried to escape up shaft Page 16 18

#4. Four of the miners made it to the surface. The remaining 12 miners attempting to avoid the rising smoke decided to move down shaft.

A rescue team arrived from Rouyn-Noranda. With the use of McCaa breathing masks, the rescue was able to shut the ventilation doors on all the levels except for the 6th level where the fire and smoke made it impossible for them to do so.

After twelve hours the trapped men were still not found. A call for help went out to mine rescue teams from Kirkland Lake, Timmins and Sudbury.

Mine rescue teams from Ontario

brought more McCaa breathing apparatus. A team of 11 mine rescuers from Timmins arrived on Friday, April 25 and brought with them six sets of McCaa masks.

Later that day 27 mine rescuers arrived from Sudbury with 10 sets of McCaa masks.

Rescuers struggled to reach the trapped miners and many believed it was only a matter of time before the men would be rescued.

In the attempt to starve the fire, the rescue teams shut the ventaliation shafts.

Despite the efforts of rescue squads and equipment brought in from mines in Rouyn Noranda, Kirkland Lake, Timmins and Sudbury, they were unable to reach the missing men.

On Saturday April 26, a major failure of the air compressor meant the air was not reaching the miners, but it was feeding the fire di-

Cont’d on Pg. 18

Time changes everything, except our values.

Since 1937, J.H. Fletcher & Co. has maintained a focus on improving safety.

Today, we thank those who join us on this vision.

Thank you to the mine rescue teams who courageously work to ensure the safety and well being of others.

You inspire us.

®

WWW.JHFLETCHER.COM ∙ 800.543.5431 ∙ SALES@JHFLETCHER.COM J.H. Fletcher & Co. cannot anticipate every mine hazard that may develop during use of these products. Follow your mine plan and/or roof control plan prior to use of the product. Proper use, maintenance and continued use of (OEM) original equipment parts will be essential for maximum operating results. 2018 J.H. Fletcher & Co. All Rights reserved.

Page 19

the Ontario Mine Rescue. from Timmins, Kirkland and SudChanges were made to the bury responding to the fire all had way mine rescue operated deviated from Ontario mine resin Ontario. Each mine would cue policy. now have fully equipped The main lesson learned from and trained mine rescue the engagement of the Timmins, substations that would be Kirkland Lake and Sudbury Mine able to respond within 15 rescue teams was that standardminutes of an emergency. ized training and equipment must Another improvement oc- be provided. Province-wide stancurred because the mine dards needed to be developed rescue teams from Kirkland and applied.

Lake, Sudbury and Timmins The position of Chief Mine Reswere observed in action. As cue Officer was created to ensure the teams were engaged in province-wide standards in mine rescue efforts, it became rescue training and equipment evident each district had maintenance were established different training and main- and implemented. tenance standards.

The move to ensure province wide In a presentation on the his- standards led to the creation of tory of mine rescue in On- the Ontario Mine Rescue Comtario, Ted Hanley, the V.P. of petitions in 1949. The first comPhoto: Toronto Star Archives Ontario Mine Rescue called petitions were held in Timmins in 1947 Malartic Mine Rescue the experience of the Ma- 1950. lartic Fire response a major This year marks, the 70 anniverCont’d from Pg. 16 turning point in the development sary of Ontario Mine Rescue comrectly. The levels of oxygen in the of how mine rescuers were to be petitions. For seventy years mine mine was declining and carbon trained. rescue teams from Ontario mines monoxide increasing.

The need to maintain mine rescue have been drilled in competitive On Sunday April 27, it was decided standardization was made very exercises to evaluate how the that fighting the fire underground clear after the East Malartic Fire. teams measured to Ontario mine was futile. Instead, a decision was The Ontario mine rescue teams rescue standards. made to pump water down shaft no. 4 in order to extinguish the fire.

325 gallons of water per minute was poured into the shaft.

The fire was eventually put out.

Over the first three weeks in May the water was pumped out of the mine and the air vents reopened.

The bodies of the trapped miners were recovered on June 25-26 and July 8 from the 11th level of the mine.

The East Malartic Mine Fire was the only time Ontario Mine Rescue responded to an emergency in an other province. Mine Rescue teams from Timmins, Kirkland Lake and Sudbury responded to a call to help fight a mine fire in MaPhoto from Toronto Star Archives lartic, Quebec.

Last of the eight caskets from East Malartic Mine Fire being carried The experience marked a major to the waiting trucks which took the victims to their last resting place. turning point in the evolution of Page 18 20

Page19 Page 2119

Photo: Sudbury Office/Mine Rescue Station Located at 235 Cedar Street

District Mine Rescue Stations Play Pivotal Role in Ontario By: Frank Giorno

There are eight mine rescue districts in Ontario and they serve a cluster of mines within their district and provide training for mine rescue volunteers.

Each mine has a mine rescue substation, which is equipped with rescue equipment owned by the Ontario Mine Rescue that includes breathing apparatus and first aid equipment.

The district office will have additional equipment such as a hydraulic lift for lifting injured workers. This equipment is expensive costing about $60,000 each. One is kept at the district office and sent out to an emergency, should it be required.

Shawn Rideout is the Chief Ontario Mine Rescue Officer. He is responsible for maintaining provincial mine rescue training consistent across all the eight mine rescue stations in the province.

Page 20 22

Rideout explains that volunteering is the backbone of mine rescue in Ontario. Employees of the mine sign up to become mine rescuers. In the Timmins Mine Rescue District there are between 180200 mine rescue volunteers from three mining companies and five mine sites.

Across Ontario there are between 950 to 1,000 mine rescue volunteers.

To become a volunteer a person requires a medical examination and a doctor’s note verifying that the are medically fit to participate in mine rescue.

“Volunteers need to be cleared by a doctor so they can participate and handle the strenuous activities without becoming ill,” says Rideout.

The Timmins Mine Rescue Station provides training and support for Newmont Goldcorp’s Hoyle Pond underground mine, Tahoe

Resource’s Timmins West and Bell Creek Mines and Kirkland Lake Gold’s Taylor Mine.

There are about 200 mine rescue volunteers within the Timmins Mine Rescue cluster. The District Mine Rescue Office provides the training that allows the mine rescue team to respond effectively to an emergency.

“We provide all training for our mine rescue volunteers,” said Danny Taileferrer, A District Mine Officer with the Timmins Mine Rescue Station. “The training starts with a 40 hour introductory course covering topics like, how to wear breathing apparatus and care for them, followed by six standardized, eight hour sessions per calendar year to continue being active in mine rescue.”

To remain active the volunteers need to take six refresher courses.

For example the first session

Cont’d on pg. 22

Page 23

Staying sharp and being ready

Important to a mine rescue team

Photo: Timmins’ Tahoe Canada Team practicing emergency scenereo

Cont’d from pg. 20

might be on the use and care of the Drager BG4 breathing apparatus. While session two might be a review of fire fighting techniques.

The courses are rotated so all volunteers from three or four mines in the district can become familiar with each others mine site.

Along with the mine rescue techniques, the teams are trained in the use of rescue equipment at each mine rescue substation located at the mine. Technicians are trained in the care and repair of the equipment.

The District Rescue Officer also provides training for the briefing officer and management courses so the management group has a general understanding of Ontario mine rescue equipment and procedures.

In addition to training, the District Mine Rescue Office also provides support during an emergency.

“For the most part in an emerPage 22 24

gency we respond with additional equipment and are there for technical assistance,” explained Taileferrer.

On rare occasions the District Mine Rescue Officer gets involved in the rescue operation.

“We have on rare occasions responded underground during an emergency, an example would be a large ground failure that lead to 2 fatalities,” states Taileferrer. “An officer assisted in the recovery because the hazards were extreme and needed to be mitigated.”

Another situation involved two District Mine Rescue officers responding to reports of a worker pinned under unsupported ground, they were able to safely remove the pinned worker without further injury.

“It’s very rare and extreme for a district mine rescue officer to respond directly to the emergency,” Taileferrer says. “But if our additional training will keep everyone

safe and help to return the mine to normal operation then we’re able to do that, at the end of the day we’re there to help in any way possible but the emergency still belongs the mine operator.”

Within each district, mines have signed mutual aid agreements committing their mine rescuers to help out in emergencies at the neighbouring sites should the need arise.

Staying sharp and being ready is an important part of being on a mine rescue team.

“Unlike some jobs that are 9 to 5, mine rescue is a 24/7 job and we have to be prepared,” says Shawn Rideout, The Chief Ontario Mine Rescue Officer.

Mines are mandated by the Ontario Mine Rescue Manual and Occupational Health and Safety requirements to have drills and mock emergency exercises so that mine rescue teams can practice their rescue skills and procedures.

Mines have gotten safer over the years “Mines will practice a stench drill, with stench gas released, as a warning that an incident has occurred,” explains Rideout. “When the stench gas is released mine rescue teams carry out their mine rescue procedures.”

In addition, to the drills at the local mine site every year, mine rescue teams from each mine compete at the district level, where they are evaluated on how well they carry out a simulated emergency. There were eight district mine competitions in 2019. The winners went to the Provincial Mine Rescue Competition held at the Newmont Goldcorp Musselwhite Mine in the Red Lake District.

“Mines have gotten safer over the years,” explains Rideout. “Fires are less frequent, but a fire is still as intense as fires of the past.”

Even though the frequency of mining emergencies are down, training has continue to meet any emergency that may arise a mine.

“That means practice is crucial to being ready to respond to an emergency,” Rideout says.

As Ted Hanley, the Vice-President of Ontario Mine Rescue points out in his presentation on the Ontario Mine Rescue in 1980 there were 100 mine rescue operations in Ontario. By 1989 there were 40 and in 1999 there were 23. Today there are about 15-25 mine emergencies.

The District Rescue Officers themselves also provided training to provide the latest, most up-to-date mine rescue training so they in turn can provide about 60,000 training hours to the mine rescue volunteers. The District Officers are trained in everything related to emergency re-

sponse from EMS to First Aid. “Our guys are going to be in Hamilton, to be trained in Advance First Aid by Wilson Medical,” says Rideout. “And later we are going to Georgia to be trained in responding to rock collapses.”

Page 23 25

Mine rescue team listens to briefing before being deployed to fight the McIntyre Mine fire in 1965

By: Frank Giorno

In 1965, a fire at the McIntyre Mine, in Schumacher, Ontario raged for nine days before it was finally extinquished.

The mine was very deep and that created logistical problems for the mine rescue team tackling the blaze. The fire occurred almost a mile deep, and a mile from the main entry.

The fire raged for nine days between February 8 and 17, 1965.

The only fatality during the ninedays occurred on the morning of February 8 when the body of a skiptender near Shaft 11 was discovered by the rescurers.

The first signs of the fire were reported in Shaft 15. The fire was at first believed to be on the 6500 Page 24 26

level. A rescue team tried to make its way to find the fire but was turned back because of the smoke and heat from the fire.

The distance needed to travel to the fire, the smoke, heat given and carbon monoxide (CO) created challenges in extinquishing the fire. In addition, because of the time it took to put out the fire, it spread to different levels of the mine.

By February 10, 1965, the McIntyre Mine Rescue teams were facing exhaustation and a call went out for help from other mine rescue teams. Eventually, 16 mine rescue teams from Timmins, Kirkland Lake and Sudbury arrived to help fight the fire around the clock.

Fresh Air Bases (FABs) were es-

tablished to allow the crews to travel back and forth to the surface with only a simple N type breathing mask.

On February 13, foaming machines were brought down and foam sprayed to and prevent the fire from spreading. By February 14 the fire had been located at two locations. The first was a stope located at 6100 level with a rise to 5900 level; the second was located at a stope on 6400 level to 6200 level. Hydraulic fill lines were brought to these locations and the valves opened.

The fire was finally put out by February 16, and the ventilation fans were turned on from the 4600 level to 5300 level to vent out carbon monoxide gas. At one point when CO levels were at the highest level there was concern that it might enter into the Hollinger Mine via a “party wall” that connected the two mines.

The mine rescue effort had expended 3,376 team hours, 16,880 man hours, and 405 Cont’d on pg. 26

Page 25 27

Cont’d from pg. 24

team hours using oxygen masks.

Between February 17 and March 5, rescue teams monitored the temperature within the mine and also searched for hotspots to put out. During that time temperatures declined from 110 F to the high 80s and the CO decreased to nothing.

A lesson learned from the McIntyre Fire was that a breathing apparatus with a larger capacity were required to fight the blaze. As a result of the McIntyre Mine fire, Ontario Mine Rescue decided to purchase breathing apparatus that that allowed for a four hour air supply capability.

The two-hour McCaa apparatus was not suffi-

DT-26N MINE TRUCK

Mine rescue volunteer Gerry Tremblay dons a new Drager BG174 breathing apparatus with the assistance of Mine Rescue Officer John Guthrie -1968

cient to allow the McIntyre Mine Rescue team to fight the fire effectively. After investigating and testing different apparatus, the Draeger BG174 was purchased to allow for a four-hour capability. The Draeger BG174 was introduced to mine rescuers in Canada. The BG 174 lasted over 38 years before being replaced by the BG 4 in 2003.

We Salute the mine rescuers and the Ontario Mine Rescue for your dedication to saving the lives of your fellow workers.

UNDERGROUND MINING EQUIPMENT WORLDWIDE With 50 years of experience, DUX offers a full range of products designed to meet the needs of mining and tunnelling projects worldwide.

Contact DUX today for field-proven underground haulage, utility and scaling solutions.

DUX MACHINERY CORPORATION 615 Lavoisier, Repentigny, QC Canada J6A 7N2 +1 (450) 581-8341 • www.duxmachinery.com

Page 26 28

Testing the inhalation valve on the McCaa breathing apparatus –1961

In 1965, Stompin’ Tom Connors was living in Timmins, Ontario and performing at the Maple Leaf Hotel at the time of the McIntyre Mine Fire. Connors followed the coverage of the fire on the news. With each new development he wrote a new verse to a song about the McIntyre Fire.

He recorded the song Fire in the Mine shortly afterwards at the CKGB radio station owned by Roy Thomson. It was one of his first songs ever recorded and captured the grief felt in Timmins at the time. He hoped that the song would boost morale and bring solace to grief stricken residents. As Charlie Angus, a musician and author himself, and also MP for Timmins-James Bay, put it in his book “Mirrors of Stone”, during the summer of 1965, Stompin’ Tom Connors’ “Fire in the Mine” out sold the Beatles. In Timmins and the Porcupine at least.

“There’s a fire way down in the mine ...

It was February second in the year of sixty five A miner’s life was taken in the carbon monoxide The gas had been created, way down a mile or so In the McIntyre hellfire six thousand feet below There’s a fire way down in the mine...”

Thank You

to our

Mines and Mine Rescue Teams

Congratulations! to all participating teams!

2019 Mine Rescue Competitions

How can we help?

Chemical Inventory & Online SDS Library

www.MySDS.ca

S S E C C A T N A T S IN

to ANY Safety Data Sheet

on any device!

• First Aid Measures ... in UNDER 15 SECONDS! • PPE • Accidental release measures • Toxicological & Ecological information • Proper storage and handling • Locations of hazardous material (site specific) • ... so much more!

Prevention

&

In-case of EMERGENCY

We do ALL the work so your team can do what they do best!

MySDS Inc. would like to extend their THANK YOU

3 free* months!

MENTION THIS AD FOR

with a special offer!

OF MySDS INC. ONLINE SDS MANAGEMENT

*

Initial start-up fees will apply

Page 27 29

The Falconbridge

Rockburst of 1984

Leading to changes in

Mine Rescue Training By: Frank Giorno

On June 20 1984, a rockburst occured at Falconbridge’s No. 5 shaft in Sudbury at the 4,000 foot level. The force of the rockburst was so intense that it measured 3.5 on the Richter scale and was felt in downtown Sudbury.

A rockburst is a spontaneous failure of rock structure that occurs in high-stress mines. Mining activities such as blasting relieves neighbouring rock structures of pressure. The release of the pressure causes explosive shifting and collapse of the rocks that ca be significant enough to measure on the Richter scale.

The force of the rockburst at Falconbridge caused the collapse of backfill in an under-cut-and fillstope.

There were 200 workers at the mine that day and most managed to escape. Four miners were buried under the rock and perished.

One of the miners survived for 27 hours when he was pulled from the rubble by mine rescue teams, but died on the way to the hospital.

The four deaths deeply affected the Sudbury community.

“The teams performed admirably but were not setup to succeed,” said Ted Hanley, Vice Presidet of the Ontario Mine Rescue. “ They were unable to safely reach workers due to repeated events, Page 28 30

being unequipped to extricate trapped workers from the burst zones and by lack of training in working in confided space.”

The next month on July 6, 1984 a rockburst at the Creighton mine in Sudbury reached 4.0 on the Richter scale. Fortunately, the mine was closed for holidays and there were no casualties.

On December 17 another rockburst occurred at the Quirke Mine, in Elliot Lake. Rockbursts were also reported at mines in Red Lake and Kirkland Lake.

The Ontario government established the Stevenson Commission to examine emergency preparedness for rockbursts and ensuring the ground in the mines was stable to ensure workers safety.

After 17 months of public hearings, visits to 15 mine sites and discussions with mine management and unions, the Stevenson Commission released its recommendations.

Stevenson made important recommendations calling for improved monitoring for signs of rockbursts, including training miners to identify signs of potential rock collapse.

Stevenson recommended measures that would reduce the occurence of rockbursts through bet-

ter sequencing of mining activity and stablizing working areas to minimize stress and relieve rock collapses. He also called for rock mechanics programs and research into techniques for stablizing grounds in mining work areas.

The Stevenson Commission also found the rockburst in 1984 at Falconbridge Shaft No. 5 indicated a need to improve emergency response training to include handling of emergencies caused by rockbursts, rock falls, wall collapses and other non-fire emergencies.

Ontario Mine Rescue training up to the 1980s focused on managing emergencies from explosions and fires in underground mines.

“The purpose of mine rescue in Ontario is, first and foremost, to save lives in the event of a mine fire. In this the organization is exemplary, only one life has been lost in an underground fire since

Mining half page 7.5 x 4.78 live area.pdf 1 9/18/2019 10:17:25 AM

NETZSCH Pumps in the Mining Industry Challenge us! We offer Proven Pumping Solutions

NEMO® Progressing Cavity Pump

M

M

Y

Y

MY

 Reduce the cost of wear  Convey aggressive media  Pump slurries with very high solids content  Transport highly abrasive, dense and viscous media  Save time and money on maintenance

TORNADO® T2 Rotary Lobe Pump

Dewatering Skids

Applications  Slurry transfer including coal water mixtures  Thickener underflow  Dewatering

   

Wastewater treatment Explosive metering

Gland seal water Chemical metering

 Backfilling  Yellow cake  Leachates

NETZSCH Canada, Incorporated 1-705-797-8426 ntc@netzsch.com www.pumps.netzsch.com

since the system was set up in 1931,” Stevenson wrote.

The Stevenson Commission recommended improvements to the mine rescue program - by expanding capability, equipment and training in non-fire emergencies, like rockbursts.

“This Committee believes that the existing Ontario Mine Rescue organization is capable of dealing with non-fire emergencies. But the mine rescue organization must be expanded and improved. Better training is required, and there is a need to have specialized, light-weight, portable equipent available for nonfire rescue operations.”

The recommendations offered by the Stevenson Commission were adopted by Ontario Mine Rescue and mine rescue workers have been trained in responding to nonfire emergencies like rock falls and wall collapses.

A Successful Project is a Safe Project We appreciate all those who promote safety in our industry; thank you for your commitment. We would also like to give special thanks to our own employees for working safely and leading by example.

cementation.com

.

Mining Life & Exploration News 1/3 page - 4.5”x4.78”

Page 29 31

Ontario Mine Rescue Essay A deeply personal story

By Kevin Vincent

Growing up in Espanola in the 1960’s and 70’s, the small paper town just west of Sudbury, we often heard stories of the handful of local men who worked in the Doucet clearing path to early drill site.

Sudbury nickel mines. It was rare for someone’s fa-Driller Photo caption – courtesy Workplace Safety ther from Espanola to work underground, most men North)STOPE 4202-53-59. Bottom of the manway, over the slusher towards where Sulo Korpela and worked at the E.B. Eddy pulp and paper mill. The minWayne St. Michel were found. ers were always different than the other dads. A little tougher. Somewhat scruffier. Always quieter.

As kids, we attended either the English or French catholic elementary school, or Espanola Public, which would later be renamed A.B. Ellis Elementary. Including kindergarten, I spent 9 years at Sacred Heart. We knew every kid in the school. In the fall and springtime, we chose softball teams or played “scrub” before school, at recess, lunch hour, afternoon recess, and occasionally after school as well. In the winter months, the routine was boot hockey, played with a sponge puck, two chunks of snow or ice to mark the goalposts, and the same routine of choosing sides.

There were always kids who were picked last. Some weren’t invited to play at all. One of those kids was Wayne St. Michel. Wayne was the kind of kid everyone liked to pick on. Slightly taller than everyone else his age, always packing 10-20 pounds more than his nearest physical rival, not much of it muscle. Wayne was a gentle giant. The bullies all picked on him, testing their adolescent schoolyard cockiness. They were relentless. Wayne was a frequent, almost daily target. He was tripped. He was punched in the gut. And taunted relentlessly.

Every year classmates exchanged valentines. Your mother would buy a box of goofy paper notes with hearts and pink flowers and you were expected to give one to everyone in the class. Wayne was often left out.

Another tradition was birthday parties. Through grades one to six the boys would invite at least a dozen of their closest friends to a party at their home to celebrate their big day. In the later years, the parties were mixed, boys and girls. You never saw Wayne at one of those parties. Yet, every year, when it was his turn to invite his classmates, he would invite everyone. I was the only kid who went. I did it for years. He and his parents lived in the south side of town near the railway tracks in an incredibly modest structure that today would not pass most health inspections. Wayne’s parents were always gracious and thankful that I showed up for his birthday. We’d have hot dogs and cake, watch a bit of television, and play board games with Wayne’s younger brother Larry.

Fast forward a decade, and of course all of us, the kids we grew up with, were scattered across the Ontario and Canadian landscape. In 1984 my journalism career took me to Timmins, Ontario - a gold mining community that I had a lot to learn about.

I was working in radio as the local morning news announcer for station CKGB. On June 20, 1984, shortly before noon, a story came across the Broadcast News wire service that a massive cave-in, or rock-burst had taken place 4200 feet underground at the #5 shaft at the Falconbridge Mine.

Page 30 32

Mine Rescuers work 27 hours The story topped the news for days. Around 170 men managed to escape and avoid death. Four would perish.

Mine rescue crews worked frantically for 27 hours to reach a young man, buried under tons of solid rock, struggling mightily to hang on. Falconbridge president Bill James was among those who toiled underground that day in an attempt to rescue this miner who had miraculously avoided instant death.

When the mine rescue teams discovered that one of their fellow miners was still alive, they managed to snake a small line of oxygen through the mass of boulders, some weighing several tons, into the tiny area in which he was encased.

At one point, James and the others were able to communicate with him. “Hang on buddy, you hang on, we’re coming to get you.”

I looked down at my microphone in the radio news-booth. One of my co-workers handed me a sheet of paper from the newswire machine, an update from Falconbridge. Just ten minutes earlier, mine

rescuers believed they would be able to pull the young man to safety, another smaller rock-burst occurred above him. It finished what the first fall of rock had started.

I stared in disbelief at the name. I cried unbelievably hard and couldn’t read that hour’s newscast.

He was 22 going on 23.

Page 33

The Tragedy of Recovery over Rescue

By Kevin Vincent

The closest thing that 99.9% of the Canadian population has ever come to being underground is when they descend to a basement to watch television, or perhaps manoeuvre their vehicle into a below-ground parking lot at a high-rise hotel. Yet, almost every one of us has ridden in an elevator. We do it in hospitals. We ride elevators in apartment complexes. Who among us has never had the thought cross their mind of an unimaginable cable malfunction and a plunge to the bottom of the elevator shaft?

In February 1945 the unimaginable happened in Timmins.

It was a regular Friday shift for the underground miners employed by the Paymaster Mine. The mine was one of the busiest and most profitable in the Porcupine Camp.

The mine enjoyed a relatively good safety record and by all accounts, sixteen men had no reason to believe it would be their last day on earth. And while the Porcupine District’s mine rescue personnel were at the ready for any impending call to duty, they were not prepared for what amounted to a recovery mission.

Stacked against the Hollinger Fire of 1928, it was the second-worst mining accident to hit the Porcupine Camp in its 33-year history.

Page 34 32

Some of the men had ridden this cage underground for years. They likely never had time to form a thought they were about to die.

Shortly after 8am, February 2, 1945, sixteen men were traveling to their work assignments in the company’s main cage. They carried their lunch pails, some were smoking, most were joking with one another as they usually carry on.

The cage descended to the 1000 foot level. Suddenly, and without warning, the steel cable connecting the massive double-deck steel cage, snapped.

The cage plunged another 1500 feet, roughly the equivalent of four city blocks.

The cable had been tested four months earlier in October of 1944.

It was rated for a maximum payload of 51 tons, significantly more than the weight of the men and the cage itself. Maintenance records indicated that the cable had been inspected and tested regularly.

At the time, engineers concluded the cable was identified as having a safety factor of 6.5, meaning it could handle the weight of six and a half times its rated capacity.

So, why did it break? That question, and many more were left to a coroner’s inquest that examined the reasons that led to the death of sixteen men.

Magistrate Ed Tucker, who presided over the inquest, convened his hearing at the mine. He wanted to see for himself how the cable could snap so suddenly.

While it would be nearly impossible to pinpoint what happened, hoistman C. Dukeshire testified that the cable likely snapped somewhere between the hoistroom and the headframe of the #5 shaft. Dukeshire was one of 15 witnesses who gave evidence at the inquest.

Legendary Crown Attorney Sam Caldbick conducted the questioning on behalf Tucker.

“Did it seem to you that it broke inside the hoistroom?” Caldbick asked.

“Just outside,” said Dukeshire.

“How fast was the cage traveling?”

“From 1200 to 1400 feet a minute,” replied Dukeshire.

Dukeshire testified that he performed routine checks on the cage that morning and everything seemed to be working properly. In fact, the cage was on its third trip down that morning. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary on the first two.

The cage was heading for the 1050 foot level when the cable snapped. He was just getting ready to bring the cage to a stop when all hell broke loose.

“I got ready to slow up and reached Cont’d on pg. 34

Page Page 33 35

“WE’RE DYING” It was an emotion filled inquest!

Cont’d from pg. 34

for the brake when I saw the cable. I had seen the rope through the hole where it passes from the hoist room.”

Dukeshire and other hoistmen be-

Page 34 36

gin applying braking mechanisms 100-150 feet before its intended descent target. In this case, he started to apply the brakes around the 900-foot level.

The coroner’s jury peppered Duke-

shire with additional questions before he was allowed to step down.

Haunting testimony came from Edgar Taillefer, a machine man, and one of the first co-workers to reach the site of the downed cage.

“One of the men, I think it was Beland, said ‘Taillefer get us out of here, we’re dying’” he told the inquest.

Another witness, Lawrence Bilodeau, testified that he also heard voices when he reached the scene.

Witness after witness gave evidence that chilled the courtroom.

One man said he could hear the cage falling from his vantage point on one of the lower levels and he could see the snapped cable, followed by a chilling, thunderous crash.

One of the men, Arthur Beland, indeed was clinging to life, but died before he reached the hospital.

Frank Ash, a deckman, testified he could hear a rattling noise like something hitting on tin.

“I was looking at the cable,” he testified.

“Someone said, look out for loose! Loose be dammed, I said, the cable’s broke. It was there one second and then it was gone.

Someone called from the 1500 foot level and I asked if it went by. He said he saw it pass.”

Page Page 35 37

American expertise/resources

aided early mine rescue By: Kevin Vincent

Ontario’s massive mining industry, in historic terms, exploded overnight. Nickel in Sudbury, silver in Cobalt, and of course gold in Kirkland Lake and Timmins were all unearthed at or near the turn of the last century.

The discovery of those immense orebodies attracted worldwide attention. When the news of their existence hit the newspapers of the day, American investors like the immortal J.P. Morgan were quick to invest.

Underground mining took massive amounts of capital, but the returns were staggering.

Those mines also needed men, not just underground miners, but engineers, carpenters, equipment operators, fabricators, accountants, and much more. Many of them would come from the United States.

And when it came to the inevitable need to implement serious and formal mine rescue infrastructure, Ontario would turn once again to their mining brethren south of the border.

Shortly after mine rescue stations were established in Timmins, Kirkland Lake, and Sudbury in 1930, top officials from those stations were on their way to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to be trained.

The American mine rescue expertise was slow to make its way to Canada. It was well established and well-resourced. The US Congress established the US Bureau of Mines in 1910 thanks in large part to the efforts of Dr. Joseph A. Holmes. Holmes was appointed the director of the organization by President Taft. He is believed to be the first person to coin the phrase, “Safety First”.

The first mine rescue demonstration and competition took place at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field in 1911. The fact that it took place at a baseball stadium, underlined the point that Americans were to regard safety as much an American value as the affection they showed for their beloved national pastime.

The Americans even went so far as to establish an experimental coal mine in Bruceton, Pennsylvania where mine rescue teams would learn about and respond to catastrophic events such as an underground coal dust Page 36 38

President Howard Taft accompanied by Dr. Joseph A. Holmes, the first Director of the Bureau of Mines is watching a safety demonstration at Forbes Field more than 107 years ago.

explosion.

Not long after he was appointed Superintendent of the Timmins Mine Rescue Station, Austin Neame was on his way to Pennsylvania. In January, 1930 Neame boarded a train in Timmins, bound for Pittsburgh. Neame and other Ontario mine rescue supervisors would meet personally with Dr. Holmes, where they would undergo an intense introduction to the well-established field of American mine rescue.

At the time, the Ontario government vowed that nothing would be left undone. Neame was joined by E.C. Keeley or Kirkland Lake, G.S. Jarratt of Sudbury, and a number of government mine inspectors.

During one of the mine rescue competitions, more than 15,000 spectators attended, including U.S. President Taft.

October 30 was recognized across the United States as mine rescue day. The date was selected because of its historic significance. On Oct. 30, 1911, the first national mine rescue demonstration was held in the U.S., the day Taft and other dignitaries stood watch.

“To promote the importance of mine rescue teams and recognize the sacrifices made by team members and others who have responded to help miners in need during mine emergencies, I urge the mining community to recognize Oct. 30 as Mine Rescue Day; a day set aside to acknowledge and celebrate the courageous mine rescuers — past and present — who put their lives on the line to save other miners,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “These individuals represent the best of America.”

The U.S. Bureau of Mines soon retrofitted a number of train cars that were specially equipped for mine rescue. It was one of those cars that was quickly dispatched to Timmins for the 1928 Hollinger Fire.

C-ALS & VS+

®

Scan the accessible with the fully wireless Carlson VS+ and scan what you can’t reach with the Carlson C-ALS Gyro — perfect for innaccessible underground cavities.

carlsonsw.com For more information, contact lasermeasurement@carlsonsw.com

Page Page37 39

Red Lake District

great hosts to 2019 Provincial Mine Rescue Competitions By: Work Place Safety North

celebrating its 90th anniversary The Red Lake District along with this year, mining and mine rescue Newmont Goldcorp, Red Lake in Red Lake has a long, colourful Gold Mines in beautiful Red Lake history.

Ontario were hosts to this years Though gold was discovered in Provincial Mine Rescue Compe- the region in the 1890s, not until titions. This event would not be the strike by L.B. Howey in 1925 possible without the dedication did significant development begin of the Ontario Mine Rescue staff, to occur, and that was hampered the 2019 Provincial Competition initially by the region’s isolation.

Planning Committee, and the pas- Since then, however, more than sionate people at Newmont Gold- two dozen operating mines – corp Red Lake Gold Mines. With Howey, Hasaga, Madsen, Arthur White, Dickenson Red Lake, Campbell Red Lake, Cochenour and others – have produced more than 28 million ounces of gold, making the region one of Canada’s and the world’s most significant gold mining centres.

The Red Lake camp was originally serRed Lake Mine Rescue Station opened 1948 viced for a short time the support of safe and innovative by Ontario Mine Rescue from the underground mine operators like Geraldton Mine Rescue Station.

Newmont Goldcorp, Ontario But OMR opened its Red Lake Mine Rescue can challenge the station, its fifth, in 1948, staffed by best teams in the province with re- Mine Rescue Officer (MRO) Charalistic mine emergency response lie Culbert, who served the district scenarios in their actual place of until he retired in 1976. work.

A string of MROs followed, includThanks to all the support staff, driv- ing Art Russell, Jack Wallgren, ers, setup crew, helpers and orga- Len Kutchaw, John Hagan, Pete nizers involved in the execution of Lefebvre, and Markus Uchtenhathis year’s Provincial Competition. gen. Current MRO Grant SaunSpecial thanks to the competing ders took on the position in 2004 teams for the tireless work beyond and is now the district’s second the call of duty to prepare for this longest serving MRO at 15 years.

Mine Rescue evaluation. Win or Red Lake mine rescue teams lose, the training you have under- have participated in the Provincial taken will be invaluable as you Mine Rescue Competition almost become leaders of Mine Rescue as long as there have been comteams during future emergencies. petitions. Mine rescuers from CoLike Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR), chenour-Willans Gold Mines won Page 38 40

the first Red Lake District competition in 1954.

District winners were initially presented with a plaque for their achievement, but it was replaced in 1977 by the current trophy donated by Safety Supply Co., which features gold, iron and zinc ore samples from district mines and a flame safety lamp on the top tier, flanked on each side by a mine rescuer wearing a BG174 and holding a flame safety lamp.

In 1964, a Cochenour-Willans team won the district’s first provincial competition, a feat repeated five times over the approximate half-century since, by: 1980 – Umex-Thierry Mine, 1985 – Dickenson-Sullivan A.W. White Mine, 1991 – Campbell Mine, 2001 – Campbell Mine, and 2017 – Goldcorp Musselwhite Mine.

The Umex-Thierry Mine team included Linda Bell, the first woman to compete at a provincial competition.

History is not always in the past.

This spring, Red Lake mine rescuer Dave Hay competed as a technician, extending his ‘Iron Man’ record for 25 consecutive years as a competitor.

‘Iron Man’ Dave Hay’s first Provincial Mine Rescue Competition, 1995

Host Red Lake mine a major gold producer Red Lake Gold Mines is an underground mining operation in the prolific Red Lake gold camp in Northwestern Ontario, Canada.

The operation consists of three underground mines, Campbell, Red Lake, and Cochenour with ore processing plants at the Campbell and Red Lake Complexes. The Campbell and Red Lake mines began operations in 1949 and produced 23.6 million ounces to Dec. 2018.

The Cochenour-Willans mine was in operation from 1929-1971 and produced 1.2 million ounces of gold.

Primary mining method is longhole stoping following best practices for design and sequencing.

Waste rock, paste fill or a combination of both is used to fill the

open excavations once mining is completed. Ore is hoisted up either the Balmer or Reid shafts, then processed using a conventional crushing and grinding circuit combined with a gravity concentrator for free-milling gold and carbon in pulp for refractory gold.

Gold recoveries from the mills average 94%.

The historic mining district of Red Lake spans 42,000 hectares and has produced over 28 million ounces of gold since 1930.

First recorded prospecting in the Red Lake district was carried out by the Northwestern Ontario Exploration Company in 1887, but gold was not discovered in the district until 1922.

Following the discovery of gold, Red Lake experienced a sudden

surge of economic, industrial, and population growth. By 1936, Red Lake’s Howey Bay was the busiest airport in the world, with more flights landing and taking off per hour than any other.

In 1944, exploratory drilling struck gold in what is now known as Balmertown and in 1945 the Campbell and Dickenson (now Red Lake) deposits had been discovered. The Campbell and Dickenson mines operated independently from 1949 until 2006 when Goldcorp acquired Campbell Mine when Placer Dome Inc. merged with Barrick. Today, Red Lake Gold Mines is owned

by Newmont Goldcorp, following the April 2019 merger of Newmont Mining Corporation and Goldcorp Inc., forming the world’s leading gold company. Newmont Goldcorp has operating mines in North and South America, Australia and Africa. They are committed to the health and safety of people and the responsible management of resources.

Since its creation in 1929, Ontario Mine Rescue has established a reputation for high standards in training, equipment and emergency response, as well as in the development of safe, effective mine rescue practices. We have served as a role model for the establishment of training and safety programs for mine rescue organizations in other provinces and countries. workplacesafetynorth.ca Page 39 41

Preparing for tragedy as a first responder By: Kevin Vincent

While outsiders may marvel at the training, expertise and bravery of mine rescue personnel, the human cost and impact of recovery missions can be both breathtaking and heartbreaking.

In the late 1980’s, for example, mine rescue personnel were engaged to recover the body of a young miner killed at the Kidd Creek Mine in Timmins.

At the coroner’s inquest into the tragedy, it was revealed the young man was somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be. He was part of a team of maintenance individuals assigned to various projects throughout the mine. On the day he was killed, he took it upon himself to repair a railing in a stope that was adjacent to the north skip. That skip was under repairs that day. No-one was supposed to be where he was. His enthusiasm to show his supervisors self-initiative, cost him his life.

He attached his two-inch waist lanyard to a railing that stretched across the corner of the ore-bin’s shaft. Unbeknownst to him, the Page 40 42

maintenance crews working on the 800-ton ore-bin more than 100-metres overhead were about to test their repair assignments.

Coroner Dr. Alex Huckowich described what happened in unimaginable detail. As the young man worked on fixing the railing, repair crews overhead released the 800-ton ore-bin and sent it downward. The distance between the steel bin’s massive frame and the ore-shaft averages no more than 6-inches.

As it plummeted down the shaft, in a split second it caught his lanyard, instantly dragging his sixfoot-four frame into a small gap.

Less than one-third of his remains were recoverable.

That horrific incident snuffed the life out of a young man quicker than the blink of an eye. The impact for mine rescue personnel, however, can last years.

Not every mine rescue operation is indeed, a rescue.

The guidelines established by the US Bureau of Mines and adopted over time by other jurisdictions

around the world, including Ontario, are a stark reminder of the kind of gut-wrenching work that mine rescue are faced with – no different than the work of police officers and fire rescue personnel, we have commonly come to know as First Responders.

Mine rescue personnel are given guidance such as the following: “One consequence of humanitarian and recovery operations is coming in contact with bodies of people that have died under tragic or horrible circumstances.

You may be assigned the mission of recovering, processing and perhaps burying human remains. You can complete the operation proud of what you have done, and return to your usual duties, career and family life without being unduly troubled by the memories — even when those memories include some very sad, unpleasant or distressing details.

Rescue operations personnel often say this is harder to adapt to because of the difficulty in forming

that “shell.” Of course, the degree of decomposition of the bodies will be determined by the temperature and climate, and by how long it has been before you can reach them and begin collection.

Remember that you are helping the deceased to receive a respectful burial (even if in some cases, it must be a hasty and mass burial). You are saving their remains the indignity of simply being left on the ground to decay.

In some cases, you are helping survivors know their loved ones have died, rather than lingering in uncertainty. Those relatives or friends can then take the bodies for private burial, or at least know where they are buried. This gives them closure so they can move on with their lives.

Statistically, mining in Ontario is one of the safest industries in all of Canada. The enormous amount of effort, training, and resources, coupled with intense government oversight through the Ontario Ministry of Labour, ensure that the risks of serious injury or death are minimized at all costs.

Dr. Holmes and men like Austin Neame paved the way so that a world-class response would be employed in the event of an unforeseen tragedy.

ƵŵĂƐ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĚĞĚŝĐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ DŝŶĞ ZĞƐĐƵĞ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ŐŝǀĞ ŽƵƌ ŚĞĂƌƞĞůƚ ƚŚĂŶŬƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŵ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƐĂĐƌŝĮĐĞƐ ƚŚĞLJ ŵĂŬĞ.

Page 41 43

Ontario Mine Rescue

Today

By Frank Giorno

The Ontario Mine Rescue system stands as the last line of protection in Ontario’s underground mines. It was born out of the tragedy of the 1928 Hollinger Mine Fire in which 39 people perished due to a stubborn fire that neither the mining company or the town of Timmins was prepared to deal with.

The Godson Commission (1928) looked into the causes of the Hollinger Mine Fire and made recommendations on how to avoid such tragedies in the future.

Godson also recommended the creation of the Ontario Mine Rescue system.

Page 42 44

Over the 90 years of its existence, Ontario Mine Rescue has evolved and along with improvements in the Ontario’s workplace safety legislation and regulation, together they have made great strides in mining workplace safety.

Through the lessons learned from the tragedies of the East Malartic Mine Fire (1947), the McIntyre Mine Fire (1965) and the Falconbridge Rockburst (1984) and other incidences, Ontario Mine Rescue has evolved and upgraded its practices.

The Ham Commission Report in

1975 included more than 100 recommendations concerning mine health and safety. Ham also introduced the idea of an internal responsibility system, which would require government, employers and workers to work together to improve health and safety.

Shortly after the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1978 enshrined the creation of joint health and safety committees in workplaces including mining.

Today health and safety committees composed of management and employees review and assess safety issues that arise and rectify them to prevent injury.

Through the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Regulations workers may refuse dangerous work until the hazard is cleared.

This provision helps to identify and remove a workplace hazard to prevent injury or loss of life.

The Ontario Mining Association and its members promote safe production as fundamental to Ontario mineral operations. To that end, mining companies devote themselves to promoting an ingrained workplace safety culture by training employees, engaging in risk management, measuring performance, rewarding achievement, sharing information and adopting best practices.

The ultimate goal pursued by Ontario mining companies is to achieve a zero-incident work environment.

In 2016 and 2018, Ontario’s mining industry met its zero-fatality

Some 900 volunteers participate in mine rescue program objective - a significant achievement, marking yet another step toward achieving zero harm.

Should a mining emergency occur highly trained mine rescue teams are to rapidly respond protect worker safety and rescue workers caught up in a fire, rockburst, spill or other incident.

Through the Ontario Mine Rescue system, individual mine rescue teams are supported in meeting any mine emergency that may arise. Mine rescue teams are trained in safe and effective mine rescue procedures. They are also trained in the use of the latest mine rescue equipment and safety.

“Today, annually there are about 15-25 mine emergencies conducted in the province for fire, non-fire, entrapment or hazardous spills,” said Ted Hanley Vice President of Ontario Mine Rescue.

By comparison,Hanley explained, in 1980 there were 100 mine rescue operations in the province. In 1989 there were 40 and by 1999 there were 23. Today, according to Hanley there are about 15-25 mine emergencies conducted in the province for fire, non-fire, entrapment through rock and mud slides and hazardous spills.

“The potential for an emergency event is still there even though they become infrequent,” Hanley said. “Less frequency means that training still has to be carried on.”

There are 8 District Mine Rescue Stations in Ontario that support

Computer simulation tool for mine rescue training the work of the frontline mine rescue substations located at each operating mine in Ontario. There are 34 mining substations but the number fluctuates based on mine closing or opening.

About 900 volunteers participate in the mine rescue program.

Every underground mine site has a mine rescue substation with trained volunteers and a cache of equipment ready to be deployed immediately, without waiting for the District Mine Officer, mine rescue officer or vehicle to arrive.

About 4% of the 22,000 mining employees in Ontario or 900 volunteer mine rescue participate in mine rescue. They spend 98% of their time on mine production and 2% to Mine Rescue. The mine rescue stations are on call 24/7.

In addition, to carrying out training programs for mine rescue, Ontario Mine Rescue owns mine rescue equipment that is placed in mine rescue stations and substations. 1800 units of emergency response equipment are on hand at the mine site substation and the eight District Mine Rescue Stations.

Advancements are being made in mine rescue training. For ex-

ample, NORCAT has developed a Mine Rescue Simulation game using virtual reality. It’s not a replacement but a supplement to the hands on training provided by Ontario Mine Rescue. In addition, Laurentian University provides training through the Laurentian University Mine Rescue Club.

Today Ontario Mine Rescue provides introductory Mine Rescue Program for volunteers and provides the principles of mine rescue as well as lessons on standard mine rescue and equipment.

Training also includes simulated emergencies conducted in underground environment. Each year district mine rescue competitions help to reinforce the lessons learned and ensure teams are following the approved standards of rescue.

Volunteers must take 6 refresher training courses each year to continue on as a mine rescue.

Members are all taught how to use the rescue equipment and breathing apparatus. Those interested can take a techician certification course. There are courses or briefing officer certification and mine emergency management.

Page 43 45

District Mine Rescue Competition Important Part of Education & Training The Mine Rescuer

By Frank Giorno

In May, 2019, 23 mine rescue teams from eight District Mine Rescue Offices across Ontario participated in the Provincial Mine Rescue Competitions.

All mine rescue teams are given the same scenarios that simulate an emergency in an underground mine, and have about two hours to complete the tasks in the exercise.

Each year the scenario changes.

This year the exercise began with the team told to investigate an underground explosion and fire in an exploration drift. The rescuers also have to deal with a medical issue because one of the people in the air tent is diabetic and displaying the effects of low blood sugar. The person had her blood sugar tester and glucose in her lunch pail. After looking through her lunch pail they locate what was needed to treat her.

Once the team has assured that the air tent is operational, they Page 44 46

continue to search for missing mine workers.

As the team proceeds they come across a diamond drill platform on fire. The team then proceeded further into the mine to find two more diamond drillers.

They also had to deal with methane gas, that was pouring out of a drill hole that was on fire.

The generator and power pack for the diamond drill had tipped over and one man was pinned under them. Another man was also seriously injured having been impaled by drill rods.

Prior to attending to the impaled man, the team checked the vital signs of the man underneath the fallen generator. Seeing that the vitals were stable, one team member put a breathing apparatus on the man’s face. They awaited equipment to lift the generator off of him.

They removed the rod out of the im-

paled man and brought him to the surface for further medical attention.

While part of the team were assisting the injured men, others were putting out the fire from the methane gas streaming from the drill hole.

In addition to the evaluation of the simulated mine emergency, each team technician is evaluated on repairing a vital piece of rescue equipment. There is also a written multiple choice test for all competitors.

The results of the test scores, equiment repair task and the evaluation of the simulated emergency response are added up and the winning district team is determined. The winning teams and technicians went on to the Provincial Mine Rescue Competition in Red Lake, Ontario.

     

Gas Detector LEL Gas Detector CO Gas Detector NO2 Front Thermal Camera Rear Thermal Camera OEM/ End User/ Vehicle Up-Fitter Vehicle Upgrade

  

Temperature Sensor



Wi-Fi Connectivity to Transmit Data to Surface



T: (705) 434-0253

 OEM/ End User/ Vehicle Up-Fitter Rear Thermal Camera Vehicle Upgrade  OEM/ End User/ Vehicle Up-Fitter Algoma District Vehicle Upgrade

 

Barrick Gold Hemlo Operations -- Winner Wesdome, Eagle River Alamos Island Gold

Kirkland Lake District

Oxygen Sensor Multiple Flat Screens With Video & Data Display

Kirkland Lake Gold Macassa Mine -Winner Alamos Gold, Young-Davidson Kirkland Lake Gold Holt-Taylor T: Mine (705) 434-0253 McEwen Gold, Black Fox

  

Thermal Camera with Automated Personnel Detection Thermal Camera with Integrated Collision Avoidance Integrated Data & Video Display Digital Data & Video Recorder

Explosion Proof System

E: sales@provix.net

 Gas LEL List ofDetector all mines that   Gas Detector CO  Gas Detector LEL competed in the eight  Gas Detector NO2  Gas Detector CO district 2019 Mine  Front Thermal Camera Gas Detector NO2   Rear Thermal Camera Rescue Competitions: Front Thermal Camera



W: www.provix.net

Red Lake District

Temperature Sensor Goldcorp, Musselwhite  Thermal Mine Camera with Automated Newmont - Winner Personnel Detection Newmont Goldcorp, Red Lake Gold Mines, Team Nyland Oxygen Sensor Temperature Sensor Thermal Camera Camera with with Integrated Automated  Thermal Goldcorp, Gold Mines, Team Willis Multiple FlatNewmont Screens With Video & Red Lake Personnel Detection Collision Avoidance Oxygen Sensor Data Display  Thermal Camera with Integrated Multiple FlatSouthern Screens With District Video & to  Integrated Data & Video Display Wi-Fi Connectivity to Transmit Data Collision Avoidance Data Display K+S Windsor Salt, Ojibway MineData - Winner  Digital & Video Recorder Surface Integrated Data & Video Display Compass Minerals, Goderich Mine Wi-Fi Connectivity to Transmit Data to Explosion Proof System Surface CGC, Hagersville Mine  Digital Data & Video Recorder Explosion Proof System

Sudbury District

Vale Canada, Team Hamilton - Winner Vale Canada, Team Fortin Laurentian University

Thunder Bay District

North American Palladium, Lac des Iles - Winner New Gold, Rainy River Mine E: sales@provix.net W: www.provix.net

Timmins District E: sales@provix.net W: www.provix.net Newmont Goldcorp, Porcupine Gold Mines - Winner Glencore, Sudbury INO, Team Lefebrve - Winner Glencore Kidd Operations Glencore, Sudbury INO, Team Jorgensen Tahoe Canada, Timmins West/Bell Creek Mines Onaping District

T: (705) 434-0253

Page 45 47

International Mine Rescue Competition 2020 to be held in West Virginia

Photo: Canadian Team Tahoe Resources competes on the big stage in 2018.

By Frank Giorno

The International Mines Rescue Body (IMRB) is the largest network of mines rescue professionals, responders and specialists in the world.

The member nations include Canada, the United States, Britain, China, Russia. In total there are 23 member nations that belong to the IMRB. Every two years the IMRB hosts an International Mine Rescue Competition (IMRC) to evaluate mine rescue skills of competing teams in simulated emergency situations, to provide feedback on the performance of all the competitors and to promote the exchange of knowledge on best rescue practices.

On September 12-18, 2020, the IMRB will hold the Internation Mine Rescue Competition at Beaver, West Virginia at the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) grounds. The K+S Windsor Salt Ojibway Mine team that won the Ontario Provincial Mine Rescue competition will travel to West Virginia to participate in the event and so will the Diamonds in the Rough, the all-female rescue team from Canada, if they are able to raise funds to cover their expenses.

In 2018, the IMRB held their biennial mine rescue competition in Ekaterinburg, Russia is the fourthlargest city in Russia and the administrative centre of Sverdlovsk Oblast, located on the Iset River east of the Ural Mountains.

Page 46 48

Tahoe Resources, from Timmins, Ontario and the Diamonds in the Rough represented Canada during the IMRC in Russia.

The IMRB represent the most advanced mining jurisdictions as members or associates and share common vision of providing information freely with the result of “improving emergency response capability everywhere”.

Mine rescue is the specialized job of rescuing miners and others who have become trapped or injured, and combating fires and other emergencies in underground mines. Mine rescue teams are trained and equipped to deal with a wide range of hazards and situations including fires, explosions, rockfalls, toxic gases, influx of water, and injuries.

In 2016, Sudbury hosted 28 teams from around the world to compete in simulated underground rescue exercises. That year, the Team from Kirkland Lake Gold became the first Canadian team to win first place honours.

The event challenges teams to simulate different exercises such as first aid, fire fighting and rope rescue.

“As well as going head-to-head with other teams, competitors hope to collaborate and share ideas about rescue operations during the games,” said Paul Aho of Vale West Mine’s team.

For more information please visit, http://imrc2016.ca/

SHAPING A WORLD OF TRUST

Analytical Laboratory Services for the Exploration & Mining Industries ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

VANCOUVER WHITEHORSE TIMMINS RICHMOND (Met lab)

Assaying and Geochemical Analysis Metallurgy and Mineralogy Mine Site Laboratories Spectral Services Environmental Services

Toll Free: 1-800-990-2263 bvmininfo@ca.bureauveritas.com www.bureauveritas.com/um

Page 47 49

The 2019 Provincial Mine Rescue Teams and

ALGOMA DISTRICT– BARRICK GOLD, HEMLO OPERATIONS Back left: Trainer Terry Gregorash, Captain Russell Eagle, #4 Kurtis Atkinson, #3 Evan Barley, #7 Paul Bain, Briefing Officer Glenn Young Front left: #2 Alex Brown, Vice-capt. Kyle Luce, #6 Brian Greenwood

KIRKLAND LAKE DISTRICT – KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD, MACASSA MINE Left: Technician Norm Gannon Jr., #7 April Bertrand, #6 Maciej Watorek, Vice-capt. Jason Dicaire, #4 Basil Eraif, #3 Rene Lavoie, #2 Nick Perrier, Captain Hubert Gour, Briefing Officer Lino Therien

ONAPING DISTRICT – GLENCORE, SUDBURY INO TEAM LEFEBVRE Left: B.O. Joffre Sanftenberg, Captain Andre Lefebvre, #2 Kara Deneka, #3 Joel Vaillancourt, #5 Julien Lalande, #4 Jesse Legault, #6 Alyssa Wilson

RED LAKE DISTRICT – NEWMONT GOLDCORP, MUSSELWHITE MINE Back left: V.C. Steve Godin, #6 Ryan Lepage, Captain Kyle Fry, #4 Ryan Swaluk, B.O. Chris Horde, Technician Ryan Thibeault Front left: #8 Phil Mullin, #3 Gabe Roy, #2 Jack Lawson, #7 Jimmy Sinclair

Page 48 50

the district they represented at the Provincials

SOUTHERN DISTRICT – K+S WINDSOR SALT, OJIBWAY MINE Left: #3 Dillon Perry, Captain Adam Schraeder, Briefing Officer Matt Stefanic, #4 Joe Schraeder, #5 Phil Schraeder, #2 Al Gernon, Kneeling: #6 Ethan Kirby

SUDBURY DISTRICT – VALE CANADA TEAM HAMILTON Left: #6 Aaron Brouse, Captain Jon Hamilton, #5 Chris Charbonneau, #4 Jacques Martin, #3 Breanne Pilon, #2 Roch Berthiaume, Briefing Officer Lorne Beleskey

THUNDER BAY DISTRICT – NORTH AMERICAN PALLADIUM, LAC DES ILES MINE Back left: #4 Justin Earle, Captain Justin Wilson, Vice-capt. Dave Chony, #3 Cody Vold Front left: #6 Jeremiah White, #2 Brad Kemp, Briefing Officer Marcus Snow

TIMMINS DISTRICT – NEWMONT GOLDCORP, PORCUPINE GOLD MINES Back left: TechnicianJoe Joliat, Briefing Officer Andy Burns, #5 Yannick Marchand, #4 Mike Ladouceur, #6 Chad Delaurier, Coach Ken Beamish Front: #7 Eric Carriere, Captain Steve Charbonneau, #3 Ryan Jones, #2 Eric Coderre

Page 49 51

K+S Windsor Salt Ojibway Mine WINNERS 70th Anniversary Ontario Mine Rescue Competition

By Frank Giorno

The 70th anniversary edition of the Ontario Mine Rescue competition was held in Red Lake the first week of June, 2019, with the mine rescue volunteers from K+S Windsor Salt Ojibway Mine finishing first overall and earning the right to wear the champions’ gold hard hats.

It was the first time K+S Windsor Ojibway Mine has come out on top at the Provincial Mine Rescue Competition.

In May, 2019 the Windsor, Ontario-based team won the Southern District rescue competition, in Goderich, Ontario.

The Provincial Mine Rescue competitions were organized to apply province-wide standards in mine rescue techniques. The first ever Ontario Provincial Mine Rescue competition was at the Pamour Porcupine Gold Mines from Timmins in 1950.

During the competitions the eight mine rescue teams that won their district competitions were assigned simulated mine rescue Page 50 52

scenarios in a portion of Newmont Goldcorp’s Red Lake mine. The teams were evaluated on their knowledge, firefighting skills, first aid response, care and use of emergency equipment and their ability to apply their knowledge to solving the simulated emergency.

The provincial mine rescue competitions feature the mine rescue teams, technicians and theory exam winners from the eight district competitions that were held across Ontario in May, 2019.

The week-long competition was organized by Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR), a part of Workplace Safety North, and hosted by Newmont Goldcorp, Red Lake Gold Mines from June 4-7, 2019.

Major sponsors of the Provincial Mine Rescue Competitions were Drager Safety and Newmont Goldcorp.

The K+S Windsor Salt mine rescue team consisted of: Captain Adam Schraeder, #2 Al Gernon, #3 Dillon Perry, #4 Joe Schraeder, Vice-captain Phillip Schraeder, #6 Ethan Kirby, #7 Mike Yott, Briefing

Officer Matt Stefanic, Team Coordinator Jeremy Bondy and team Manager Giovanni Grande.

K+S Windsor Salt Ojibway Mine, was also awarded the John Guthrie (Special Equipment) Award during the closing banquet on Friday, June 7.

The mine rescuers from Newmont Goldcorp’s Porcupine Gold Mines finished in second place. Porcupine Gold Mines, won the Timmins District mine rescue competition held in May in Timmins, Ontario.

In addition, Porcupine Gold Mines also won the Team Firefighting Award.

Meanwhile, the Newmont Goldcorp, Musselwhite mine rescuers won the Theory Exam Award.

Jean-Yves Doiron, a mine rescue technician with Vale Canada in Sudbury, won the award for top technician. Doiron won technician competition for the Sudbury District competition in May. Norma Gannon Jr. of Kirkland Lake Gold, Macassa Mine finished second.

Steeve Pinel of Alamos Gold, Island Mine finished third.

Cont’d on pg. 49

SUDBURY 190 Magill Street Lively, ON P3Y 1K7

MOBILIZING STRONG COMMUNITIES The Team First Aid award went to Glencore’s, Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations.

This year, the Provincial Mine Rescue Competitions also celebrated the 90th anniversary of Ontario Mine Rescue. The Ontario Mine rescue system was established in 1929, a year after an underground fire at the Hollinger Mine in Timmins claimed the lives of 39 miners. Over the ensuing years, OMR has evolved from a fire service to full emergency response service for all underground emergencies.

The competitions organized by Ontario Mine Rescue, a part of Workplace Safety North, test the teams’ knowledge, firefighting skills, first aid response, use of emergency equipment, and decision-making ability under stress in a simulated underground emergency. Mine rescue equipment technicians from each mine also compete in a test of their abilities to service, diagnose and repair the specialized equipment used by teams.

Mine rescue team members, the backbone of Ontario Mine Rescue, are mine workers trained by District Mine Rescue Officers to respond to all types of mine emergencies including fires, explosions and ground collapses. They provide a rapid response to emergencies at their mine.

Under the authority of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and headquartered in North Bay, Ontario

TIMMINS 2090 Riverside Dr. Unit 33 Timmins, ON P4R 0A2

VAL-D’OR 249, 7 ième rue Val-d’Or, QC J9P 0B9

TOLL FREE 1-800-268-5350 sales@carriereindustrial.com

www.carriereindustrial.com

Pictured centre: Jean-Yves Doiron, with Vale Canada in Sudbury, won the award for Top Technician

Mine Rescue staffs, equips and maintains a network of mine rescue stations across the province that ensure mines within a specified geographic area have adequate emergency response capability.

Workplace Safety North provides products and services to promote workplace health and safety in the mining, forestry, and paper, printing and converting industries, as well as workplaces across northern Ontario.

Page 51 53 49

“Key to Mine Rescue is Trust” Says Captain of the K+S Windsor Salt Mine Rescue

By Frank Giorno

Adam Schraeder is the captain of the K+S Windsor Salt Ojibway Mine Rescue Team that won the Ontario Provincial Mine Rescue Competition in June, 2019 at Red Lake Ontario.

Adam was introduced to mine rescue when he first started working at Windsor Salt’s Ojibway Mine in Windsor, Ontario.

“When I first joined Windsor Salt, our safety manager asked if I was interested in being involved with mine rescue,” Adam recalls. “I thought I would give it a try”.

Ontario health and safety laws require a ratio of one trained individual available for each of five underground employees. There are 26 mine rescuers at the Windsor Salt Ojibway Mine.

Like other physically demanding activities there are requirements that need to be met before makPage 52 54

ing it to the K+S Windsor Salt mine rescue (this applies to all mine rescue teams in the province).

“There are four criteria used for selection of personnel. Common core training underground, medical requirements, physical requirements, assurance of qualifications.”

After meeting these criteria, anyone wanting to join the team must complete an advanced First Aid/ CPR course for three days and then a five-day 40-hour basic introductory training course from Ontario Mine Rescue.

“At our facility we have a competition for any volunteer who is interested in being on our competitive team. It involves a theory and a practical test that all members of the team must complete in order to secure a position on the team.

A standard competition mine rescue team consists of five people (Captain, #1, #2, #3, #4, ViceCaptain and #5. In competitions,

we also have a #6 who is basically a spare and must be able to fill in for anyone on the team, or complete a separate problem on their own.

Communications is a crucial part of mine rescue. “The rescue team is in constant contact witht the briefing officer on the surface,” explains Schraeder.

They remain on the surface and help navigate and guide us through the situation, while they have direct contact with the Control Group (Incident Command), who is overseeing the emergency.

“As a Captain, I am the leader of the team whether in a training scenario or in a real-life situation,” Schraeder adds.

The Ontario Mine Rescue program sets out protocols and priorities when a team is deployed for any emergency, and when working in dangerous situations, safety of the team always comes first.

“It is my responsibility to ensure

all hazards are controlled or eliminated so as not to endanger my team,” he says.

The K+S Windsor Salt Ojibway Mine team won the District Mine Rescue Competition in Goderich in May and then travelled to Red Lake, Ontario to participate in the Ontario Provincial Competition June 4-7, 2019.

Schraeder describes his reaction to the simulated mine emergency in a Red Lake Ontario mine, during the 2019 Provincial Mine Rescue Competition. The unknown is always nerve-racking at first, but we have a huge level of trust on our team, once we begin and have our directive a calmness sets in and we respond to the emergency.

The competitions organized by Ontario Mine Rescue, a part of Workplace Safety North, test the teams’ knowledge, firefighting

skills, first aid response, use of emergency equipment, and decision-making ability under stress in a simulated underground emergency. Mine rescue equipment technicians from each mine also compete in a test of their abilities to service, diagnose and repair the specialized equipment used by teams. The competitions are organized as a way of instilling province-wide standards in mine rescue techniques.

K+S Windsor Salt Ojibway Mine was awarded first place overall in the mine rescue competitions and also was awarded the John Guthrie (Special Equipment) Award at the closing banquet Friday June 7th.

It was the first time the K+S Windsor Salt team won the Provincial Mine Rescue Competition.

“It’s a cliche to say, but we all train

for something we hope never happens. To be confident and proficient in our skills is paramount knowing that could potentially save a life.”

“It’s hard to believe that we won the event, through a lot of hard work and a change in culture we were able to succeed,” Schraeder says.

For Adam Schraeder and K+S Windsor Salt Ojibway mine rescue training and preparedness the victory was well deserved and it ties in very nicely with the company value of safety first.

“At K+S Windsor salt safety is crucial; our corporate safety credo is - nothing is more imporant to K+S than health and safety - not production, not sales and not profit.

We train for the worst possible scenarios, while mitigating the chances of them ever happening.”

Proud to salute the Mine Rescuers of the Past, Present, and Future!

Defining Tire Management Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group delivers innovative solutions to safely maximize tire life and increase mining productivity.

With over 45 years of experience and global operations on five continents, Kal Tire is the only tire service provider capable of handling all of your tire requirements on a daily basis.

KalTireMining.com

Page 53 55

Diamonds in the Rough Demonstrate Abilities In Mine Rescue Competitions

By Frank Giorno

The Diamonds in the Rough are an all female mine rescue team from Canada that made an impressive debut at the 2018 International Mine Rescue Competition in Russia.

They won the People’s Choice Award and were honoured for their performance in the competition. And they did it all in Russia, a country where it’s illegal for women to work in underground mines.

The Diamonds in the Rough members work in mines or mining related companies from different parts of Canada. They became the first all female team to compete at the International Mine Rescue Competition. For that accomplishment they received an award to commemorate them as the first all-female team to compete at an international mine rescue competition.

Mine rescue competitions are held in mining jurisdictions all over the world including in Ontario and other Canadian provinces. The competitions are a way for the mine rescue teams from individual mines to stay prepared and ready Page 54 56

to respond to any mine emergency. During the competition teams are evaluated on how they respond to a simulated emergency.

The idea for creating an all woman mine rescue team came to Kari Lentowicz in 2007, but it was at that time, a far off idea. “ As years passed, I was often the only female competitor in mine rescue events in the underground portion,” Lentowicz recalled.

But nine years later an opportunity arose that led to the formation of the Diamonds in the Rough mine rescue team.

“In 2016, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the international mines rescue competition in Sudbury Ontario. At this event there were only five female competitors out of about 180,” Lentowicz said.

Lentowicz knew then that there was a need to revive the plan to showcase the strengths and capabilities of women in these emergency response roles.

“The end goal was to increase the number of women in these roles and in 2017, we started our search for individuals and when

we knew we had enough interest, we formed a non-profit with an initial goal of training a team for the International Mines Rescue Competition in Russia,” Lentowicz said.

The team members competing in Russia consisted of Renae Campbell (Levitt-Safety), Heather MacKenzie (Diavik Mines), Janie Blanchette (Agnico Eagle, Val d’Or), Kari Lentowicz (KLEMQ Consulting), Fanny Laporte (Agnico Eagle, Baker Lake), Naomi Fugle (Cameco, McArthur River) and Jodi Brasch (Hudbay Minerals, Snow Lake).

“Mine rescue is not only a legislated requirement in Ontario and other Canadian provinces, but a proven necessity in a mining environment,” explained Lentowicz.

“Though we train extensively, the hope is that our services are never needed. However, as history has proven, the missions mine rescuers respond to are only successful because of the skills they develop through their training programs. “ “I know I always felt a bit more secure working at site having a hand Cont’d on Pg. 55

Diamonds in the Rough in Russia

compete on world stage of Mine Rescue Cont’d from Pg. 54

in the development of emergency response plans to protect the safety of my co-workers,” Lentowicz added.

The members of Diamonds in the Rough have the qualities that are needed in order to be conscientious mine rescuers. They are intelligent, intuitive, mentally and physically strong. Most importantly, they have built a strong bond that is essential to a strong and successful mine rescue team. The DITR wanted to show the world that women in mine rescue are a valuable resource for advancing safe work practices and emergency services.

The International Mine Rescue competition, was held from September 22 to 29 ,2018 in different mines in Russia’s Sverdlovsk region north of Kazakhstan. Twenty-five teams from 12 different countries – including China, Australia and India – participated in the events.

Canada was represented by the Tahoe Resources mine rescuers from Timmins and the Diamonds in the Rough.

Participating in Russia was quite the experience for the Diamonds in the Rough team. The Diamonds In The Rough finished 15th out of 25 teams at an international mining competition in Russia. Both the Diamonds in the Rough and the Tahoe Resources rescuers were awarded with special certificates recognizing their contributions in mine rescue. The Tahoe Resources team was recognized as the fastest mine rescue team in the competition.

“Competing in Russia - a country where it is illegal for women to work underground- was truly the experience of a lifetime,” Lentowicz said.

“From the moment we arrived, to our very departure, our stay in Russia was met with a warm welcome by our host country and all the competing teams.”

“Being acknowledged as making a

difference in mine rescue during the closing ceremonies was definitely one of the highlights as was receiving the People’s Choice Award,” Lentowicz stated.

During the week of mine rescue competitions, the Diamond in the Roughs earned a lot of respect from the other mine rescue teams.

“Simply seeing how we went

from initially being seen as a novelty to being recognized as strong and viable competitors within the week was a great transformation and made us feel like we were having a hand in paving the way for a more welcoming environment in mine rescue worldwide for women,“ recalled Lentowicz with satisfaction.

This past September, Diamonds in the Rough was able to com-

Cont’d on Pg. 56

Page 55 57

Women in mine rescue spread word and demonstrate strengths and skills Cont’d from Pg. 55

pete as an exhibition team at the North West Region Mine Rescue Competition in Fernie, BC. With less than three days of on-site training at Teck’s Elkview operation, we performed very well and obtained a 2nd place finish in the First Aid event. I don’t think you could or ever would see anyone as happy to come in second as we were. Though our placement amongst our mine rescue peers was fantastic, perhaps the moment that highlighted our whole week happened on Thursday morning. A young girl no older than four came up to us with total glee and admiration that there was a team of women participating. She held the captains stick and was so elated. That is what we are about: being a role model to encourage more girls and young women to see that they can do anything too.

The team consisted of the following members.

Megan Frederick (Ministry of Mines, BC), Jillian Newell (UBC Mine Engineering Student); Jennifer Hingston (Cameco Corporation, Rabbit Lake), Heather MacKenzie (Rio Tinto, Diavik), Jodi Brasch (Hudbay Minerals, Snow Lake), Heather Willis (Newmont Goldcorp) and Fanny Laporte (Agnico Eagle, Baker Lake).

Lentowicz, now with KLEMQ Consulting and Bruce Coley, Coley Safety and Training Consulting are the coaches of the DITR. Kari Lentowicz though she no longer directly works for a mining company, stays involved through annual training and volunteering Page 56 58

at mine rescue competitions and being the managing director of DITR. “As for the rest of the ladies involved on both this and last year’s teams, they are involved in mine rescue through the companies they work for,” explained Lentowicz. “All - including myself - have met the requirements and standards and are competent in mine rescue.”

The next International Mine Rescue will be September 12-18, 2020 in Beaver, West Virginia at the Mine Safety and Health Administration Academy.

The Diamonds in the Rough would like to participate and continue spreading the word and demonstrating the strengths and skills of women in mine rescue.

The Diamonds in the Rough are always looking for new recruits and opportunities to increase awareness around diversity and inclusion.

“We have been involved in a number of speaking engagements and

have several more scheduled,” said Kari Lentowicz. “If there are opportunities where companies or schools would like to have us come speak, we would love to participate. “ “As well, to achieve our long-term goals, we are always seeking out funding opportunities, “Lentowicz continued. “ We are gladly accepting donations of equipment and of course money so we can further achieve our goals and increase awareness around diversity and inclusion.”

In order to participate in upcoming competitions, the Diamonds in the Rough have opened a Go Fund Me page to raise funds.

“We have a four-year plan that involves training courses, competitions and speaking opportunities,” said Lentowicz. “This year however we are still short approximately $12,000.”

For those interested in supported the Diamonds in the Rough fund raising please visit https:// ca.gofundme.com/f/2019DITRERO

Utility Vehicles

Alex MacIntyre and Associates Ltd.

Tracks & Wheels Equipment Brokers

Industry Leading Products

Sudbury North Bay Timmins 705-566-5438 705-268-5438 705-840-5438 www.minemaster.com | Hotline 1-800-465-5438

Rely on Richwood Load Zones. Worry-Free by Design.

Clean-up costs, lost product, safety and environmental issues are a real risk to productivity. With a Richwood designed load zone, this application is saving 40 hours of clean-up and close to $19k in components every month. What would it mean for your productivity if loading and spillage issues were eliminated?

Contact Richwood today for your on-site evaluation.

Congratulations on your 90th Anniversary Ontario Mine Rescue

www.richwood.com

RICHWOOD IMPACT SADDLES®

Worry-Free Load Zones

BEFORE

AFTER

US (800) 237-6951 | +1(304) 525-5436 | info@richwood.com ©Richwood2019

59 Page 57

Mine Rescue Training

benefits from Digital Technology

By Frank Giorno

Training is a vital component of mine rescue. The more realistic the training, the better prepared mine rescuers will be when responding to an actual emergency.

In this respect, Ontario Mine Rescue through its required training courses and Mine Rescue Competitions provide sound instruction to mine rescue team members.

The use of computer driven simulation of an underground rescue has added a new dimension to mine rescue training. One such high-tech computer simulator was created by NORCAT and Ontario Mine Rescue in 2016.

‘Ferdeno’ is an avatar-based simulation that offers a new approach to mine training and development.

Users view various mine rescue emergencies and are asked to make choices to successfully carry out the mission.

“The program allows up to 5 mine rescuers to view emergency scenario’s and they get to select the right gear and make the choices on how to carry out the rescue,” explains Ed Wisniewski from NORCAT’s IT Department.

“The simulated mine rescue program is in a computer format and is like a Playstation game with a joystick, that enables the user to make selections,” says Wisniewski.

“Norcat developed a Mine Rescue simulation game where team members communicate through the simulation much as a mine rescue team would -- not a replacement but a supplement to real training,” says Ted Hanley, Vice-President of Ontario Mine Rescue.

NORCAT and Ontario Mine Rescue are working on additional training technology, though Wisniewski can’t talk about the specifics just yet. An announcement will be made in September/October and the new technology unveiled at that time.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of this project,” says Hanley, General Manager of Ontario Mine Rescue. “Our goal was to make the Ontario Mine Rescue experience as realistic as possible. So, we used our expertise to develop the underground mine emergency storylines. The combinations of scenarios are limitless, and we welcomed the challenge.”

For information about Ferdeno, please visit www.http://www.ferdeno.com/ Page 58 60

CHARTERED, CARGO AND SCHEDULED FLIGHTS

Servicing the communities and companies AIRCREEBEC.CA • 1 800 567-6567

© David Quachegan

C

s

ongratulation

Page 59 61

Photo: MineSAFE Modular Design Refuge Chamber.

MineARC Systems is the global leader in refuge chambers and safety technology.

Improving Safety as a Result of Changing Mining Technology Another major milestone in the evolution of Ontario Mine Rescue and over all mine safety was the Ontario Mining Safety Review.

In 2013, the Ontario Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Health and Safety section under took a review of emergency response and mine rescue system to examine whether improvements had to be made because of the changing nature of mining.

The Review found that the mining sector takes great pride in Ontario’s mine rescue system, and is generally satisfied with the current way it is set up and operates. But, a number of people called for a review evaluating the ability of the current mine rescue system to respond to hazards created by new Page 60 62

technologies and mining methods and to launch effective rescue operations as mines in Ontario get deeper and distances from the shaft, increase.

These issues had been raised before as early as 1965 during the McIntyre Fire, in Timmins. Since then mines had gotten deeper.

A final report containing 18 recommendations was released in 2015.

The recommendations called for: • Requiring employers to have formal water management programs to reduce hazards related to excess water in areas where miners are working • Enhancing ground control protection to track and monitor seismic activity • Mandating regular mining sector risk assessments • Requiring employers to have plans to manage hazards like sil-

ica and diesel exhaust that cause occupational illness Consultations were held with mine management, organized labour, and the Ontario Mine Rescue staff. A review was undertaken of coroner inquest recommendations and previous mining inquiries including the Ham Commission, the Burkett Commission and the Stevenson Commissions. As well Ontario’s standards and regulations for emergency readiness and response was compared to other jurisdictions.

A number of people from the mining community felt it was important to review the mine rescue system in light of the changes in mining technology and methods. Mines in Ontario were getting deeper and workfaces were at greater distances from shafts.

Cont’d on pg. 62

Right Solutions • Right Partner

alsglobal.com

LEADING PROVIDER OF ANALYTICAL GEOCHEMISTRY SERVICES via an integrated global network of laboratories with consistent quality and dependable client service.

Track samples submitted for analysis using the new ALS Geochemistry App.

ClientServicesECAN@alsglobal.com | +1 705-560-7225 alsglobal.com/geochemistry

Innovation Lives Here

safesightxp.com

CREATING THE FUTURE:

Building Tools to Transform MINE RESCUE Transforming Inspections

Transforming Surveying Page 61 63

Training with new mine rescue equipment needs to be added courses Cont’d from pg. 60

Deeper mines present a challenge for mine rescue. The use of mine rescue transport vehicles would enable rescue teams to get to the location of the incident quicker and remove injured workers to the surface quicker for follow up medical care.

Deeper mines are hotter and more humid as a result shorter rescue shifts may be required.

Placement of undergroud mine rescue stations was considered in some of the deeper mines. But concerns were raised about how being located in a work environment deep within a mine would impact on the apparatus being effective as a cool and dust-free environment is needed to maintain rescue breath apparatus.

Mine rescue technology itself had improved and training in new mine rescue equipment needs to be added to the training courses.

The reability of breathing apparatus of four hour breathing apparatus’ versus the two hour variet was

Page 62 64

evaluated. Some breathing apparatus can be used up to four hours, but best practices says limiting to two hours use is the best. Rather than rely soley on rescuers with breathing apparatuses, the review also considered the wisdom of using individual breathing devices that miners would carry with them.

The Review heard that, in recognition of the unique nature of emergency management and mine rescue, the need for separate and specific risk assessment requirements should be considered.

The Review also looked at enhancing mine rescue capability at advanced exploration sites where similar risk exists to a fully operating mine, and also at open pit surface mines.

The fitness of mine rescuers was examined and more stringent fitness requirements were called for and the need for stress management teams to help first responders who were engaged in a rescue effort.

In addition, all Ontario mine res-

cue team members are required to have a minimum of standard first aid to assist with injured workers. Many have advanced first aid training.

Finally, the Review looked at how the training programs and the mine rescue competitions themselves could be improved.

The three other recommendations offered by the review are: •The Ministry of Labour should require mining companies to conduct risk assessments to establish Emergency Response Plans for exploration sites, new mines, surface mines and mining plants.

•Workplace Safety North to revise the Mine Rescue Handbook to include guidelines for fitness of crew members, critical incident stress management and acclimatization of emergency responders.

•The Ministry of Labour to work with stakeholders to develop proposed recommendations regarding the responsibilities of mine rescue crew members and mine owners/employers, with respect to mine rescue operations.

OUR CATALOG IS AVAILABLE ONLINE

• Safety Tent

acces-s.ca/en/product-catalog/

• Reinforced bit carrier

REA wants to congratulate all mines and their rescue teams for their efforts in the safety department !

We are glad to support all of your employees in their quest to excellence with our range of safety equipment available !

• Tool bag

• Case

• Bag for lock

• Security banner CHECK IT OUT AND SEE ALL SAFETY RELATED PRODUCTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE

819-762-2703 / www.r-e-a.ca

Northern College. Your Pathway to Mining.

Underground Hard Rock Miner Common Core

Mineral Exploration Techniques 1-year certificate program.

12-week modular training program.

Diamond Driller Assistant Common Core

Mining Engineering Technician 2-year diploma program.

10-week modular training program.

northerncollege.ca Page 63 65

Published in 2008 By: The Mine Rescue Newsletter

The MR newsletter was published at that time by the Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association. This article appeared in the ISSUE #5 MAY 2008

The Ontario Mine Rescue newsletter is published three times per year now by Workplace Safety North (WSN).

No More Arm Twisting From twisting arms to having a pick of volunteers – what a difference a year made for Musselwhite Mine’s First Nation Mine Rescue Competition team.

“We had to twist arms,” said briefing officer Frances Machimity, who was asked to join the team by Ron Gray and Paul Dube. The two mine rescuers came up with the idea of a First Nation team during a floor hockey game in the spring of 2006, thought about it through the summer, and took up the idea again in the fall.

“They asked a couple people then we went to Markus Uchtenhagen,” said Machimity. Musselwhite’s safety and training manager told them to recruit enough members for a team and then to come back.

Approximately 25 per cent of Musselwhite’s 400 workers are from First Nations, but when asking and friendly persuasion failed to get the team up to strength, Machimity said they had to resort to arm twisting. Lucas Nothing, Ray Quedent, Charlie Bottle and Nora Shakakeesic joined Gray, Dube and Machimity.

After that there was no looking back for what is probably the first all-First Nation mine rescue team in Ontario.

No More Arm Twisting “We were all trained mine rescuers,” Machimity, “but we never trained together before,” or for competition.

The reluctance, she said, came from the increased time away from family and home that additional training for competition at the fly-in, fly-out mine would take, and “we did a lot of overtime training.”

The next challenge for most team members was studying, particularly the mine Page 64 66

gases unit, Machimity said.

“All those numbers,” she said with a sigh. “I found it overwhelming.”

“Management has been very supportive,” said Machimity, ensuring the team received training, entering it in the district competition and, even though they didn’t win, sending it to Sault Ste. Marie to watch, learn and participate as “victims” in the 2007 provincial competition.

Despite nerves – “all those judges with clipboards watching you and writing things down” – the team did all right in the district competition, though they didn’t feel good about the little mistakes that “you know better than to make,” Machimity said.

The district competition, however,

was a valuable learning experience that they will now be able to call on, she said. Had they competed in the provincial competition, “I think they would have done pretty well.”

Nerves gone, at least for now, the team is working hard for this year’s district competition and a shot at the provincial competition, she said.

Also gone is the reluctance of First Nation mine rescuers to join the team.

Clayton Kitchkeesik and Wilfred Machimity, Frances’ husband who hadn’t been trained in mine rescue last year, volunteered and joined.

Others have asked to join, Machimity said. “They say, ‘You’re on the First Nation rescue team? Is this year’s team full? We’d like to join it.”

Musselwhite Mine’s all-First Nations mine rescue team plans to build on success, having put first-year competition anxiety and recruiting difficulties behind them.

Page 67

Ontario Mine Rescue equipment and technology continues to evolve

Dräger BG 174

A successful mine rescue operation depends on the best available technology that makes it possible for the rescuers to deal with challenges that arise from the emergency.

The equipment is purchased and owned by Ontario Mine Rescue and is supplied to the Mine Rescue Substation which is located at the mine site and also at the District Mine Rescue station.

Mine rescue personnel in Ontario are trained in the use and maintenance of the equipment and become familiar with its use.

At the top of the list is a reliable and effective breathing apparatus that provides a supply of air and protection against inhaling toxic substances such as carbon monoxide during a mine fire.

“The list of equipment and technology used by Ontario Mine Rescue as standard, or for specialty work is extensive and continues to grow and evolve,” says Ted Hanley, V.P. of Ontario Mine Rescue.

Page 66 68

“The breathing apparatus is the fundamental piece of equipment used by mine rescue responders attempting to re-enter mines, there is no greater importance than the understanding and proper use of the rescue’s breathing apparatus,” Hanley adds.

Hanley explains the expansive nature of underground mining, and the significant travel times associated with responding to emergencies, manufacturers have developed long duration, self-contained breathing apparatus to be used.

Training in mine rescue emphasizes extensive understanding of the apparatus for their personal safety. In addition, the need to understand the physical stresses and effects that working with such a breathing apparatus can have.

Draeger BG4 The Draeger BG4 provides up to four hours of breathing air allowing mine rescuers to work in areas with a contaminated atmosphere

Dräger PSS® BG 4 plus

or low oxygen.

It is a self-contained, closed-circuit breathing unit that uses positive pressure in the breathing circuit to prevent contaminants from entering the closed breathing circuit. Ontario Mine Rescue also uses Test-it 6100 Testers To ensure the BG4 is working properly.

The device measures th flow and pressure of the BG4s. The tester comes in a suitcase designed for easy portability.

Ontario Mine Rescue has been working with breathing apparatus manufacturers for several years on the next generation of equipment that will be deployed within the upcoming 5-10 year period.

“The goal is to reduce the risk to the responder, and that starts with improving their breathing apparatus,” Hanley says. “We need to reduce breathing resistance, reduce the temperature of the inhaled re-breathed air, improve the removal of contaminants from exCont’d on pg. 68

amedrillsupply.ca

Top hammer drilling tools: drill bits, couplings, shank adapters DTH Hammers & Bits, DTH drill pipes, eccentric & symmetric casing drill systems; Self drilling anchor bolts, bits, couplings, nuts, plates, drag bits; Core bits, reaming shells, core barrels, RC hammers & bits, drill rods, and PDC bits.

Daiwen Yang Cell: 506 229 8899

Ontario: 2679 Bristol Circle, Unit 6, Oakville, ON L6H 6Z8

New Brunswick: 1531 Elmwood drive, Moncton, NB E1H 2H5

Tel: 905 808 9818

Tel: 506 855 3355

Page 67 69

Ontario Mine Rescue continues to work with providers of mine safety technology Tablet application designed to replace the captain’s clipboard App designer FocusFS Cont’d from pg. 66

haled breath and the re-supply of oxygen into the breathing loop. “ “In addition, we need to reduce the size and weight of the apparatus, all for the purpose of reducing the physical strain and potential danger to the wearer,” Hanley adds.

Communications Technology The second area where technology has made great strides is in digital mine rescue communications and electronic record keeping or OMR. Digital Mine Rescue Communications & Electronic Legal Record Keeping, often referred to simply as OMR’s “tablet” project.

Extensive work was done from 2015-2018 to develop a software application that could be used by the Ontario Mine Rescue program as an electronic incident log, which communicated live between surface incident command personnel and mine rescue teams deployed underground.

The program still has not been made operational, but it can be a significant step forward in communicating with underground mine rescuers and recording communiPage 68 70

cations and data that is generated.

Hardware (tablet) was sourced to allow the team to bring this device with them on underground operations, rugged enough to withstand the mining or emergency conditions, and with the potential to grow the functionality beyond incident reporting.

In early 2018 work was completed on a system that could piggyback on the growing number of underground Wi-Fi networks in the province or operate underground without Wi-Fi and synchronize upon returning to surface.

The device sends live written, audio and visual information to surface management personnel to allow them to better understand the emergency and save valuable time in decision making.

In addition, the device has the potential to communicate live with equipment used by mine rescue teams, such as gas monitors, the breathing apparatus, injured worker medical monitoring devices, as well as vital sign monitors for ensuring the health and safety of mine rescue team members.

The system was developed in part-

nership between the Ontario Mine Rescue and the underground mine operators of the province and has been tested and recommended for use by all mine operators.

Just some of the other equipment used by Ontario Mine Rescue: CAREVent DRA Automatic Rescue Ventilator The CAREvent Ventilator is lightweight and portable. The unit provides a safe and effective means of providing demand breathing or artificial ventilation to casualties suffering respiratory difficulties or cardiac arrest. The ventilator is pneumatic (i.e. no batteries required) and gives breath by breath consistency in delivered tidal volume, frequency, and flow rates.

MX6 iBRID MX6 The iBRID MX6 multi-gas monitor is a sturdy, battery-powered, handheld device to monitor gas concentrations - carbon monoxide, methane and oxygen, during underground emergencies. The MX6 has a full-colour display, a menu-driven navigation system, and is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that on a full charge will operate for 24 hours.

SSR 90 M The SSR 90 M is a self-contained, oxygen-generating rescue device for casualties during rescue operations. Mine rescue personnel carry the SSR 90 M underground and are able to provide the casualty with at least 90 minutes of breathing air. The weight of the unit is 10.3 lbs.

eDraulic Spreader/Cutter/Ram Each eDraulic or electrohydraulic tool is powered by a lithium ion battery, which when fully charged, has an operating life of 60 minutes. The tools give mine rescuers more options in responding to non-fire emergencies, particularly incidents requiring extrication equipment.

Chemguard High Expansion Foam Generator Ontario Mine Rescue uses several different Chemguard foam generators. The generators are diesel-powered and are capable of producing 6000 cubic feet of foam a minute with a ratio of 1000 parts of air to 1 part of water.

Maxiforce Lifting Bags Maxiforce air bag sys-

tems are multi-application, portable inflation systems used for lifting and displacing heavy rigid objects. They are designated for use in emergency situations such as structural collapse and containment, vehicular extrications, industrial entrapment, and excavation collapse. Since the air bags contain no spark producing parts, they may be used in explosive en-

vironments.

DeWalt Reciprocating Saw The 18-volt Dewalt variable speed reciprocating saw is used for a variety of cutting application which include: vehicle extraction, conveyor belts, wood, various types of metal and clearing debris to facilitate safe rescues. The unit is equipped with metal and wood cutting blades.

With two battery packs approximately one-hour of cutting may be performed.

MSA Thermal Imaging Cameras The MSA Thermal Imaging Camera is a self-contained, battery-operated unit incorporating a miniature display monitor. It is intended primarily for use as a firefighting aid, giving good quality thermal pictures through dense smoke where normal vision is impossible.

Mine Rescue Vehicle Mine Rescue Officers are provided with fully equipped mine rescue vehicles and are available to respond to emergencies around the clock.

Each vehicle has additional breathing apparatus, various consumables and non-fire equipment that can be used during emergencies.

For more information visit www.workplacesafetynorth.ca Page 69 71

A Mine Rescuers Health Wearable technology can protect Mine rescuers’ health, study concludes.

By Frank Giorno

Mine rescue volunteers are a dedicated group of mine workers who diligently train to respond to a workplace emergency in a timely and effective mannner.

Mine operators rely on mine rescue teams, who have been trained in specialized skills to save lives during underground emergencies. During underground emergency responses, mine rescuers undergo physical and heat related stress, that could if severe enough, endanger their health.

In 2015, Workplace Safety North, the not-for-profit organization that operates Ontario Mine Rescue, reported 945 injuries related to mining in Ontario, requiring the deployment of 53 emergency response teams. Frequently occurring accidents include: underground fires, falls-of-ground, mobile equipment collisions, exposure to harmful environments, and falls from heights, which often require rescue.

Mine Rescuers carry heavy gear (about 100 lbs) while wearing personal safety clothes weighing an additional 22 kg and still performing the physical rescue tasks (e.g. fight fire, carry a casualty).

In addition to these physical dePage Page 70 72

Dr. Sandra Dorman, Professor in the Faculty of Health and Director of the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH)

mands, underground mine conditions are often very challenging including high heat and humidity, which can worsen physical loads and induce a heat stress illness.

Though there have been no reports of mine rescuers being injured or killed in Canada, in Poland six mine rescuers died during a mine rescue in 1998 from heatrelated illness. That incident led to the creation of the International Mine Rescue Body, an organization dedicated for improving mine rescue training globally.

“Ontario Mine Rescue partnered with Laurentian University’s Center for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) to conduct a research project to understand the physiological effects of mine rescue and recovery work, the first of its kind in Canada it had

been studied abroad previously,” says Ted Hanley, the Vice President of Ontario Mine Rescue.

Dr. Sandra Dorman, a Full Professor in the Faculty of Health and the Director of the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH); at Laurentian University, in Sudbury, Ontario, studied this problem at the 10th International Mine Rescue Competition (IMRC).

In 2016, Dr. Dorman and the CROSH research team monitored the health of mine rescuers who participated in a 2-hour rescue simulation, held in an underground mine in Sudbury. Organized by Ontario Mine Rescue, 27 teams of 6 participated. The teams consisted of a: Captain, Vice-Captain, No. 2 person, No. 3 person, No. 4 Cont’d on pg. 72

Pelangio Exploration Inc. wishes to congratulate all Ontario Mine Rescue teams for their recent achievements and participation in in the International Mine Rescue Competition!

Happy 90th anniversary to Ontario’s Mine Rescue Teams!

YOU MAKE US PROUD!!

Pelangio acquires and explores large land packages in world-class gold belts in Canada and Ghana, West Africa. In Canada, the company is focusing on the Dome West property located 800 meters from the Dome Mine in Timmins, the Dalton Property located 1.5 km from the Hollinger mine in Timmins, and the 25 km2 Birch Lake Property located in the Red Lake Mining District.

Thank you for everything you do.

Contact us at: www.pelangio.com or ir@pelangio.com

MiningExperienceAD2.indd 1

2019-08-26 2:49 PM

Page 71 73

76 Mine Rescuers in mine rescue competition take part in study

Cont’d from pg. 70

person, and a Briefing Officer.

Each team member has different responsibilities during a mine rescue. For example the Captain is primarily responsible for decision making, and under normal circumstances should not be helping with laborious tasks, whereas the No. 3 and 4 persons are doing the majority of these tasks.

The study results are published, and available online, in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine in March, 2019.

Dr. Dorman’s research team obtained the participation of 76 of the 135 mine rescuers participating in the mine rescue competition. The briefing officers who remained above ground were not included.

“We outfitted participating mine rescuers with wearable technology, so we could monitor and measure the physiological responses their bodies were going through while they were responding to the mining emergency,” explains Dr. Dorman.

The wearable monitor (EquivitalTM), was strapped around the chest of the participant and relayed data back in real-time, about their: heart rate, heart rate variability, respiration rate, energy expenditure, oxygen consumption, skin temperature and core body temPage 72 74

perature.

“The monitor can also tell you what position the rescuer is in, so you would know whether they have fallen, or tripped on something,” Dr. Dorman says. “In addition, the real time results could be viewed by the Briefing Officer (above ground), informing him/her about the health of each team member and in this particular case, was also available for the spectators, who came to watch the competition, via remote video, giving them a sense of ‘how hard’ the rescuers were working.”

To mimic a real life emergency the mine rescue teams were unaware of what they would face until they were called to respond to the simulated emergency.

During the competition each mine rescue team had to go through a series of simulated incidences in their rescue call. First, they encountered an unconscious casualty and a casualty in shock. The rescuers treated the victims and readied them to be taken to the surface. Second, they battled a simulated blaze by building a barricade from various materials, like bricks, fire retardant and beams.

Third, the rescuers had to extricate an injured worker, impaled on a steel post, but still alive. They had

to extricate him from the post, provide first aid to treat his wound and finally, the rescuers had to load the injured worker onto a rescue basket with a trolley and remove him up a steep incline to an exit route.

The results showed that the Captains’ physical loading and heat stress were lowest compared to all other team members. Nonetheless, all tasks and team positions incurred high physical load and heat strain throughout the rescue.

“The Captain has the responsibility of making decisions, but if his or her health is being impacted by the stress and heat-related factors, their decision making abilities may be impaired,” Dorman says.

“In that case, the findings indicate that the briefing officer may be the best person to make key decisions, around whether the team can continue the rescue, based on the health information provided to him/her about the underground rescuers (i.e. through the wearable monitoring).”

Based on the results of the study’s findings, Dr. Dorman also recommends that fitness training be instituted for all volunteer mine rescuers so they can better endure the extremes they encounter in an emergency.

In 2015, Ontario conducted a com-

Fitness training should be instituted

for volunteer mine rescuers prehensive, underground mining health, safety and prevention review and identified the need for implementing a fitness standard for mine rescue volunteers.

Canada at the present time does not require a fitness standard. Dr. Dorman’s study supports the Ministry of Labour’s recommendations for setting a fitness standard, however setting a fitness training policy should also be a priority for government regulators and industry officials, so that the industry does not lose their most experienced rescuers.

or training simulation to safeguard their health. The volunteers should be monitored and treated for heat strain after every rescue and training simulation. A recovery program should be designed

for all the members of the rescue team. Beyond the mine rescue applications wearable technology also will benefit workers in high heat and stress industries.

“The immediate benefits of improved fitness will be seen in mine rescue workers; but, because these workers come from mining companies across the province, a coordinated fitness program could trickle throughout the workplace, so that in the long run, the companies will have healthier workers as well,” Dorman says.

Based on the study carried out by the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health, OMR has modified its training curriculum.

“The results have enabled OMR to modify our training curriculum to include a focus on the topic, as well as spin off a project through our industry-driven Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to establish pre & post mine rescue operations physical assessments of volunteers at underground mine sites,” says Ted Hanley V.P. of Ontario Mine Rescue.

Dr. Dorman also believes that to protect the health of the volunteers they should be outfitted with wearable technology and be monitored through out a rescue Page 73 75

Laurentian University

The Mine Rescue Club

By Frank Giorno

Laurentian University Mine Rescue Club is a student run organization whose aim is to introduce mining engineering students and earth science students to a very important part of a mining operation - resecue and mine safety.

Through a partnership with Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR), members of LUMRC receive basic mine rescue training to raise safety awareness in engineering students entering the mining industry.

Jared Lindsay is a 2nd year student at the Bharti School of Engineering at Laurentian U. He is the president of the LUMRC and is currently working at Glencore’s Nickel Rim site as part of his 16-month co-op placement.

When Jared got to Laurentian U. he heard about the LUMRC and saw that it contained alot of elements of firefighting that has interPage 74

ested him since childhood. Lindsay went to a few sessions and he was hooked.

“Mine Rescue offers a different perspective on mining that are of interest to me from an engineering perspective,” Lindsay explains.

“How do you make things work when things go wrong?”

“When you go underground you can see what could be done to improve mine rescue and mine safety,” Lindsay says.

“During the training sessions we reflect on the rescue exercises from an engineering point of view and think of the changes that could be made to mitigate or prevent an accident or emergency from occurring,” Lindsay says.

As part of his co-op placement Jared is developing a training package for the engineering and geology departments containing procedures for dealing with an

emergency.

Laurentian University Rescue Club members get an opportunity to put what they learned about mine rescue into practice by competing in mine rescue competitions.

In February 2019, Jared Lindsay and the Laurentian University team competed in the Colorado School of Mines Intercollegiate Mines Emergency Response Development Competition in Idaho Springs, Colorado.

The competition consists of mock disasters that are created in an underground mine to train collegiate mine rescue teams in a realistic emergency search and rescue setting. It included a field competition where teams had to put out an actual underground fire, a technician test, and a first aid test.

The LUMR team won the underground mine rescue portion of

Club trains future mining engineers on the importance of Mine Rescue

2019 LUMRC Sudbury TEAM from left to right: Technician: Jarrett McGahey, #4 Man: Bryce Jones George, #3 Man: Jared Lindsay, #6 Man: Matthew Martel, #5 Man: Tommy Adair, #2 Man: Georgina Coste-Ramsay, Captain: Reid Murray, Breifing officer: Jay Chenier

the competition by successfully solving simulated challenges they faced including heavy smoke and other obstacles to rescue two trapped miners.

Later in the competition, Euan Davey and Cat Biskupski guided the team to a perfect score for Incident Command.

The LUMR Team members are: Captain: Jacob Laitar, Two Man: Brenna Greenwood, Three Man: Jared Lindsay, Four Man: Matthew Martel, Five Man: Gilles Paradis, Briefing Officer: Euan Davey, First Aid: Cat Biskupski, Reid Murray, Technician: Connor White, Tommy Adair.

“The competition was a great experience for learning about mine rescue and the approach of the other schools that participated,” says Lindsay. “We were evaluated

on a series of events during underground rescue, technology use and care, and First Aid. The biennial competition draws on mine rescue teams from universities and schools of mining from the U.S., Canada and Europe.

“It’s a great opportunity to learn from our peers,” says Lindsay.

“OMR helped us tremendously and after seeing the other approaches we returned with great appreciation for how great our training was.”

It also helps the members of the LUMR Club to become closer and develop a team bond.

“We got to know each other and really understand how important teamwork is to successfully managing a crisis.

In May 2019 the LUMR team also competed in the Sudbury District Mine Rescue Competition, as part

of the Ontario Mine Rescue’s annual district competitions that lead to the Provincial competition.

The Club is student run and is all voluntary. Members train for 1 or 2 hours on Friday after classes and then on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The LUMR Club is open to all engineering and earth science students.

Laurentian University Mine Rescue Team sponsors include: Newmont Goldcorp, Soucie Salo Safety, Draeger Safety, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Goodman School of Mines, McEwen Mining, the Bharti Family and others.

For more information on the Laurentian University Mine Rescue Club visit https://www.luminerescue.com/ Page 75 77

Internal Responsibility System By: Frank Giorno

Since 1929, mine rescue training has contributed greatly to the increased awareness of maintaining a safe workplace to prevent incidents that lead to loss of life.

Today mining workplaces are safer as companies make workplace health and safety as much priority as increasing production is.

One such company, Newmont Goldcorp the world’s largest gold mining company, with gold mines in Timmins, Red Lake, and other parts of the world strive to create a culture of zero harm and a workplace free of injuries and occupational illnesses.

Newmont Goldcorp has made health and safety a top priority.

“To create a safe working environment requires the uncompromising commitment of all of our people to demonstrate leadership in safety. By focusing on four key areas – Safety Leadership, Injury Prevention, Fatality Prevention, and Health and Wellbeing – we believe Newmont Goldcorp can achieve industry leading performance and a culture of zero harm.”

The following principles guide Newmont Goldcorp’s health and safety performance: Page 76

To achieve a zero harm workplace.

• • • • • • •

All injuries are preventable.

If a task cannot be done safely, it will not be done.

Working safely is a condition of employment.

Everyone is accountable for his or her own safety and the safety of those around them.

Everyone is expected to identify hazards and manage risks.

Everyone must maintain the necessary skills to work safely.

There are certain safety practices that, if breached, may lead to termination of employment.

Newmont Goldcorp’s “Safety Journey” is a company-wide program designed to assist individuals, teams, sites and regions with fully integrating safety into everything we do. The Journey is used to help our people identify risks and take the actions necessary to create a safety culture across the globe.

The Report of the Royal Commission on the Health and Safety of Workers in Mines (The Ham Report) was published in 1976 and introduced the Internal Responsibility System that made all parties in the workplace responsible for detecting and correcting workplace hazards in order to prevent injury and illness.

One of the major recommendations of the Ham Commission was the Internal Responsibility System which gave workers the right to refuse work until unsafe conditions are made safe. The internal

responsibility system is based on the principle that everyone in the workplace has a role in preventing accidents.

As a result a work safety conscientiousness emerged that saw management and workers cooperate in identifying workplace dangers and remedying them.

The Ham report also set the stage for the introduction of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) on October 1, 1979. It has since been augmented with additional regulations, including the mandating of joint health and safety committees in all Ontario workplaces of 20 employees or more.

In 2014, the Ontario Ministry of Labour asked the Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) to undertake a Mining Health, Safety and Prevention Review focusing specifically on the occupational health and safety needs of the underground mining sector.

The final report recommended regular mining sector risk assessments conducted by the employer, labour and the Ministry of Labour. The results of the risk assessment would result in updated emergency response plans. An-

other recommendation called for the improved physical training of mine rescuers and for outlining of responsibilities between the mine rescuers and the management team.

As well, the final report called for

the development of best practices for the Internal Responsibility System.

The emphasis of improved health and safety resulted in casualty free years in Ontario mining during 2016 and 2018.

Page 77

Lamps Forever Lit Book Review

By Kevin Vincent

T

hey called them The Wild Boars, a group of 12 boys from Thailand who were trapped underground over several days in June and July of 2018. Twelve members of the team, aged eleven to sixteen, and their 25-year-old assistant coach entered a cave after football practice. Shortly afterwards, heavy rains hit the area, partially flooding the cave, trapping the group inside. They were eventually rescued and now several movies are being made about the ordeal.

Mine rescue operations get a lot of attention these days in the 24-hour news cycle. Multiple documentaries have been made about the Westray Mine disaster of 1992 in Nova Scotia.

No movies have ever been made about the Hollinger Fire in Timmins that killed 39 men. Nor has there been a film or movie made about the 16 men who plunged to their death at the Paymaster Mine in the 1940’s.

In 2001, Kirkland Lake historian Bernie Jaworsky published an incredible research project, Lamps Forever Lit, a 250-page journal of the lives lost in Kirkland Lake gold mines from 1914 to 1996.

The book has references to more than 300 men who, over time, met their end while working underground in those seven mines, one of the western hemisphere’s most prolific mining regions.

The Lakeshore and Wright-Hargreaves gold mines dominated the string of seven mines that gave rise to what is commonly known as the Mile of Gold.

Lamps Forever Lit, unlike bronze statues or monuments, is a tribute to the forgotten generations of miners who came from around the world and paid the ultimate price to be part of the extraction of gold from the Canadian Shield.

If you can get your hands on the book, many of the men you will read about died in their early 20’s. They were sons, they were fathers, and many were grandfathers. The book doesn’t assign blame nor wag its finger at the shareholder or investor class. Instead, it simply honours the sacrifice that hundreds of men made to support their families.

There are obituaries, newspaper articles, and myriad footnotes. There are gut-wrenching letters from widows, threatening correspondence to area mines from lawyers, and plenty of solemn moments throughout its pages.

Lamps Forever Lit is a unique Canadian publication.

Jaworsky wrote: “ An accident in a mine is usually sudden. Hard rock, steel and blasting powder are not considerate of soft flesh and brittle bone. Death in most cases is gruesome, lonely, painful, bloody or suffocating. Death in a mine is not gentle.”

As one book reviewer Bill McIntyre wrote: Bernie Jaworsky has taken a very painful subject for any mining community and has presented it in such a way as to neither idealize the events or to sensationalize them. If a member of my family had died under such circumstances, it is the way I would want their memory treated, factually and with dignity.

Copies of the book can be found on Amazon for around $20.

Page 78 80

Page 79 81

The Kirkland Lake Miners’ Memorial is a memorial in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, dedicated to the city’s mining labourers.

Overwhelming stress of waiting to be rescued

By Kevin Vincent

July 19, 1938. One of Ontario’s busiest and most prolific gold mines was engaged in a routine day of production.

Suddenly, and inevitably without warning, a cave-in occurred that Tuesday morning between the 2200 and 2300 levels of Kirkland Lake’s Lake Shore Mine.

It took some twenty minutes for mine officials to piece together what they thought had happened. Calls went out to all corners of the mine.

Mine rescue teams were immediately dispatched. Mine foremen and superintendents joined the effort to try to quickly assess what had happened.

An airblast, followed by a fall of rock. The accident was just below the 2200 level. Supervisors reviewed the day’s Page 80 82

assignments and determined that four to five men would be in the area affected by the rock fall.

In short order, rescue personnel determined that three men escaped injury and were completely unaffected by the incident.

They were quickly taken to surface. Two others, 36-year-old John Greczak, and 32 year old John Zagar, were unaccounted for.

As the assessment escalated, a patch of good news, it appeared that Greczak and Zagar were uninjured as well, but their path to safety was blocked by the massive fall of rock.

It took less than an hour for rescue personnel to clear enough rock that Zagar was able to be extricated and taken to surface where he was examined, taken to hospital and released.

The job of getting to Greczak was less simple.

Like any set of first responders, once they knew Greczak was alive and could communicate, they set about assuring him that help was at hand.

“You okay?” one rescuer shouts.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied.

“Okay, you just sit tight and try to relax, we’re going to get you out of there.”

Relax. The word relax was likely rolling through his mind like a freight train.

Relax, John. You’re going to be all right.

“I’m not injured!” he told rescuers.

“Hey John, that’s great news, we just need a bit of time. Can you breathe all right?”

“Yeah, the air’s not bad, I think.”

Nearly four hours go by. Greczak is getting less and less talkative. Rescuers hypothesized he was conserving as much air as possible.

It’s eerily quiet from Greczak’s position.

It took another three hours of frantic digging, but they broke through. The 36-year-old was indeed uninjured, he was able to walk on his own, but the crew carried him out on a stretcher as a precaution.

The entire community was elated. Word spread like wildfire that the second miner had been rescued and was alive and well.

When rescue crews got him to surface, the elation turned to despair. He stood up, ready to be accompanied to the hospital for medical examination, and suddenly collapsed.

Mine rescuers, trained in first aid, immediately tried to resuscitate him.

There was nothing they could do.

He died instantly. The assumption is that he died of shock from the seven-hour ordeal.

100% North American Owned and Operated

GROUP OF COMPANIES ENGINEERING·CONSTRUCTORS·OPERATORS

Worldwide EPC & EPCM Solutions

From resource and project definition through construction and site closure, our established methods assure a collaborative and team-based approach with the project owner, lending our in-house expertise in project planning, design, permitting, supervision, and commissioning. · · ·

info@nordmin.com www.nordmin.com

Page 83 81

Page 82 84

THE POWER OF PEOPLE, FOR OVER 50 YEARS www.MacintyreMining.com

ALEX MacINTYRE MINING CONTRACTORS

& associates ltd.

1390 Government Road West Box 517 Kirkland Lake, ON P2N 3J5 l Telephone: 705.567.6663 l Fax: 705.567.4925

EXPERTS IN

Underground Material Handling

SUDBURY 269 Fielding Rd, Lively ON Canada P3Y 1L8

TIMMINS 99 Lidanri Ct, Timmins, ON Canada P4R 0K1

P 705.682.1120 F 705.682.2728

P 705.360.5145 F 705.360.5199

Toll Free 1.888.385.8559

www.equipmentnorth.com

Page 83 85

Ontario Mine Rescue PROVINCIAL WINNERS SINCE 1950 1950- Pamour Porcupine Gold Mine 1951- Hallnor Mines Ltd. 1952- Hollinger Consolidated Gold Mines Ltd. 1953- Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd. 1954- MacLeod Cockshutt Gold Mines Ltd. 1955- Kerr Addison Gold Mines Ltd. 1956- Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd., East Mine 1957- Steep Rock Iron Mines Ltd. 1958- Steep Rock Iron Mines Ltd. 1959- Algom Uranium Mines Ltd. - Quirke Mine 1960- Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd., Mine #5 1961- Rio Algom Mines Ltd. - Nordic 1962- Willroy Mines Ltd. 1963- Algoma Ore Properties, MacLeod Mine 1964- Cochenour Willans Gold Mines Ltd. 1965- Denison Mines Ltd. 1966- MacLeod Cockshutt Gold Mines Ltd. 1967- Denison Mines Ltd.

Page 84 86

1968- Algoma Ore Div., Rio MacLeod Mine 1969- Rio Algom Mines Ltd., Quirke Division 1970- Inco, Garson Mine 1971- Inco, Frood Stobie Mines 1972- Rio Algom Mines Ltd., Quirke Division 1973- Rio Algom Mines Ltd., Quirke Division 1974- Noranda Mines Ltd., Geco Div. East (Kidd Creek) 1975- Algoma Ore Div., MacLeod Mine 1976- Denison Mines Ltd. 1977- Denison Mines Ltd. 1978- Algoma Ore Div., MacLeod Mine 1979- Texas Gulf Canada Ltd., #2 Mine 1980- Umex Thierry Mine 1981- Umex Thierry Mine 1982- Madawaska Mines Ltd. 1983- Inco Ltd. 1984- Inco Ltd., Creighton Complex 1985- Dickenson-Sullivan A.W. White Mine

Provincial Competitions 1986- Lac Minerals Ltd., Macassa Division 1987- Denison Mines Ltd. 1988- Denison Mines Ltd. 1989- American Barrack, Holt McDermott Mine 1990- Sifto Canada Inc., Goderich Mine 1991- Placer Dome Inc., Campbell Mine 1992- Placer Dome Inc., Dome Mine 1993- Inco Ltd., Frood/Stobie Complex 1994- Inco Ltd., Levack Complex 1995- Inco Ltd., Frood/Stobie/Garson Complex 1996- Falconbridge Ltd., Onaping/Craig Mines 1997- Falconbridge Ltd., Fraser/Strathcona Complex 1998- (tie): Barrick Gold, Holt McDermott Mine Falconbridge Ltd., Onaping/Craig Mines 1999- Inco Ltd., West Complex 2000- Battle Mountain Gold, Holloway Mine 2001- Placer Dome Inc., Campbell Mine 2002- Falconbridge Ltd., Craig/Lockerby Mine

1950-2019 2003- Newmont Canada Ltd., Golden Giant Mine 2004- Inco Ltd., East Mines 2005- Inco Ltd., West Mines 2006- Goldcorp Canada, PJV 2007- CVRD-Inco, East Mines 2008- Xstrata Nickel, Fraser/TL Mines 2009- Vale Inco, East Mines 2010- Goldcorp Canada, Porcupine Gold Mines 2011- Vale, West Mines 2012- Barrick-Hemlo 2013- Glencore Xstrata Copper, Kidd Operations 2014- Vale, East Mines 2015- Vale Sudbury, West Mines 2016- Compass Minerals, Goderich Mine 2017- Ron Weaver, Vale Canada, East Mines 2018- Tahoe Canada, Timmins West & Bell Creek Mines 2019- K+S Windsor Salt, Ojibway Mine

Page 85 87

Do those masks come in smaller sizes?

By Kevin Vincent

“Bill? Is that you?”

A strained and weak voice replies. “Yeah, yeah, it’s me.”

“Are you okay?”

“Everything hurts, I can’t move.”

Bill thinks he’s dreaming. In fact, Bill thinks he may have already taken his last breath. The voice asking him if he’s all right, is distinctly that of a woman, he thinks it’s an angel.

As he struggles with the fact he’s trapped by tons of rock and thickening smoke, Bill ponders his fate.

“Am I dead?”

“No, you’re gonna’ be just fine, Bill.

We’re here to get you out.”

88 Page 86 Page 88

Pictured above is Cynthia Cameron the first woman in Ontario to Qualify as a Mine Rescuer - 1978

While the preceding lines of this article are a dramatization, it’s a storyline that could only be a work of fiction until 1978.

When it comes to the history of the mining industry, there are a small handful of women included in the same sentence.

Viola Macmillan, Peggy Witte, Edith Tyrrell are three of the more common names. Today, however, hundreds of women hold senior level positions in both corporate and government roles.

So, it should come as little surprise that Falconbridge’s Christine Bertoli breaking the glass became the first woman to compete ceiling in mine resas vice-captain in a Provincial Mine cue would have the Rescue Competition, coincidentally, the first at an underground venue same outcome. At (Fecunis Mine) – 2004 one time in North

“Today we recognize pioneers Cynthia Cameron, Linda Bell and the many women that have been a part of building the Ontario Mine Rescue program and responding to emergencies in the province’s underground mines.”

Ontario Mine Rescue POST March 8, 2018 · Sudbury

American mines it was considered bad luck for a woman to venture underground.

Mining has been an industry dominated by men.

However, written and photographic records dating back to the early 1800s exist indicating that women worked in the coal industry in England and Wales; took part in the California, Alaska, Yukon and BC gold rushes; and have prospected throughout North America since the mid-1800s.

It wasn’t until 1978 that a trapped or injured male miner could expect to hear the voice of a woman coming to the rescue.

That early first voice would come from the vocal cords of Cynthia Cameron, a 19-year old student at the Haileybury School of Mines who became Ontario’s first-ever, certified mine rescuer who was not male.

During her studies in Haileybury, she developed a passion for mine rescue and despite the social landscape of the day, that likely included male counterparts dissuading her from achieving that goal, she persevered, determined to add mine rescue to her growing list of skills and knowledge.

According to files at Workplace Safety North, the body that oversees mine rescue training and operations in Ontario today, instructors recall Cynthia’s incredible determination to be a mine rescuer, and that she didn’t care that she was going to be the first woman to go “under oxygen”.

Page 90

St. Andrew Goldfield’s Lynne Bouchard became the first woman to compete as captain in a provincial mine rescue competition – 2014

Linda Bell, left, with the UmexThierry Mine Rescue team became the first woman to compete in a Provincial Mine Rescue Competition – 1980

87 Page 89

Thunder Bay host City Central Canada`s Expo

By Frank Giorno

Thunder Bay, Ontario, at the western end of Lake Superior, is where East meets West.

In 2020, Canadian Trade-Ex, the company that produces the Big Event, Canadian Mining Expo in Timmins, Ontario, one of the largest mining trade shows in Canada, will host another Big Event called the CEN*CAN EXPO in Thunder Bay, Ontario. CEN*CAN EXPO will showcase northwestern Ontario and Manitoba’s mining, mining services and supply sector, forestry and construction industries all under one roof at one time September 9-10 at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition Grounds to the world.

Northwestern Ontario is 526,417 km² in size and is roughly the size of France (547,030 sq. km). It’s extends north and west of Lake Superior, and west of Hudson Bay and James Bay. Manitoba forms its western boundary. About 250,000 people live in Northwestern Ontario.

Thunder Bay a city of more than 120,000 people serves as the regional hub for Northwestern Ontario. The eastern boundary rests north of Sault Ste. Marie around Wawa, Ontario.

Northwestern Ontario consists of the districts of Kenora, Rainy River and Thunder Bay. In addition to Thunder Bay other major communities include, Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, Sioux Lookout, Greenstone, up to Hearst, Red Lake, Marathon, and Atikokan.

There are over 50 First Nations Page 88 90

industries such as mining and forestry contribute significantly to the regional economy. communities in Northwestern On- In Ontario, the mining industry tario and Thunder Bay serves as creates about 26,000 direct and the head office of the Nishnawbe 50,000 indirect jobs and is the Aski Nation (NAN) which repre- third-largest private sector emsents all First Nations in Northern ployer of Indigenous people in the Ontario who signed Treaty 9. province.

Thunder Bay, also referred to as According to the Thunder Bay the Lakehead, is strategically lo- Community Economic Developcated and well connected with ment Commission Northwestern transportation network that moves Ontario Mines produced approxiproducts and people consisting of mately 900,000 ounces of gold the main east west TransCanada and 234,000 ounces of palladium Highway (Highway 11 and High- in 2017. way 17) and Highway 61 extend- The Ontario Mining Association ing 32 miles south to the U.S. reports there are nine operating Both the Canadian National and mines in Northwestern Ontario, Canadian Pacific Railways pass eight of them are gold mines. Clusthrough Thunder Bay. Thunder tered around the Wawa area are Bay’s airport is the third busiest Alamos Gold’s Island Gold Mine in Ontario. Its port is the deepest which has produced over 500,000 on the Canadian side of the Great oz of gold in its 12 years of operaLakes. From the Port of Thunder tions. The Wesdome Gold Mine’s Bay grain and potash from the Eagle River and Mishi Mines are prairies is shipped to ports in Can- nearby with the Eagle River Mine ada and the United States and to producing 1,050,000 ounces of destinations around the world. gold in its 23 years of operations.

Ontario Power Generation’s Moving north Harte Gold’s Sugar Northwestern Operations include Zone mine is Ontario’s newest one operating biomass and 11 hy- gold mine having begun full scale droelectric stations. Together they production in January, 2019. Estiprovide about 900 megawatts mates from February 2019, show (MW) of power, which accounts an Indicated Mineral Resource of for 86% of the electricity used in 4,243,000 tonnes grading 8.12 g/t the Northwest. A transmission line for 1,108,000 ounces contained expansion is currently underway gold and an Inferred Mineral Reby Hydro One spurred in part by source of 2,954,000 tonnes, gradseveral new mining projects being ing 5.88 g/t for 558,000 ounces developed in the region. The 230 contained gold.

Kilovolt (KV) Waasigan Transmis- Westward 80 km. from Sugar sion line will extend from Thunder Zone is the prolific the Williams Bay, Atikokan and westward to Mine operated by American BarKenora and the Manitoba border. rick in Hemlo, Ontario near MaraAlthough Thunder Bay has a di- thon, Ontario. The mine has been versified economy with health operating for 30 years and has services, education and technol- produced more than 21 million ogy-based businesses, resource ounces of gold.

Thunder Bay active in gold production Home to Worlds Only Pure Play Palladium Mining Operation Opened since November 2017, New Gold’s Rainy River Mine, situated 50 km northwest of Fort Frances has 4.2 million oz. of proven gold reserves and 12 million proven reserves of silver.

In Red Lake, Ontario, 180 km. north of Dryden Ontario and 100 km from the Manitoba Border, Newmont Goldcorp operates the Red Lake and Campbell Mines in an area that has produced 29 million oz. of gold since 1949. Its Musselwhite Mine, located 500 km north of Thunder Bay has 1.85 million oz. of proven gold reserves.

Located northwest of Thunder Bay, North American Palladium’s Lac des Iles Mine, is the world’s only pure play palladium mining operation.

The future of mining in Northwestern Ontario looks bright indeed.

The Ontario Mining Association 2019 Mining Directory lists 16 advanced mining projects in Northwestern Ontario. That’s the phase just prior to full scale production.

Of the 15 advanced projects 10 are gold mining projects. These projects include Rubicon Gold’s Phoenix Project, Newmont Gold’s Couchenour Project and New Gold’s Madsen Project in the Red Lake District. Greenstone Mining’s Hardrock Mining Project near Geraldton, Treasury Metals, Goliath Project near Dryden, Ontario.

There are two lithium mining projects among the advanced stage projects; two platinum group metals (PGM), one copper and one graphite.

Beyond that is the vast mineral potential of the Ring of Fire, located 540 km. northeast of Thunder Bay consisting of nickel, copper, gold, diamonds and more. While it has taken time to get things rolling, the Ring of Fire has the potential to bring benefits to Ontario’s north for generations to come. Some have described it as Ontario’s oilsands.

Underpinning the extensive exploration and mining industry in Northwestern Ontario are 500 mining service and supply companies in Thunder Bay. Mining activities have resulted in the signing of benefits agreements between operating mines and First Nations that provide jobs and other economic benefits to Indigenous peoples of Northwestern Ontario.

In addition to mining, forestry continues to play a major role in

Northwestern Ontario, a region that has the largest tracts of forest in Ontario and it sustaining wood products manufacturing industries includes businesses such as sawmills, composite mills and structural board and lumber plants producing construction materials and specialty wood products. Pulp and paper mills are the largest types of plants for converting timber fibre to forest products.

This past summer in June, 2019, a billboard was posted along Highway 17 near Dryden, Ontario to promote the importance of the forestry industry in Ontario. The billboard under the “It Takes a Forest” public awareness initiative was posted in Northwestern Ontario by local sponsors including the Central Canada SFI Implementation Committee (CCSIC), Domtar Inc., Resolute Forest Products, and Dryden Forest Management Company Ltd. They joined Scott Jackson, Director of Indigenous and Stakeholder Relations from Forests Ontario at the billboard in celebration of the forest sector’s key role in supporting the province’s economic, social, and environmental well- being.

In Ontario, the forestry sector produced $15.5 billion in sales revenue in 2017. Pulp and Paper generated $8.3 billion in revenue (2015). Sawmills and other wood products had $4 billion in sales (2015).

Industry wide, the forestry sector

Page 89 91

FOREST INDUSTRY A CRITICAL PART OF ONTARIO`S ECONOMIC BACKBONE employed 57,000 directly and another 172,000 indirectly (2017) in Ontario.

“The forest sector is a critical part of Northern Ontario’s economic backbone, and has been supporting families and communities for generations,” said Jenny Tallman, Chair of CCSIC, a committee dedicated to fostering understanding and supporting the growth of sustainable forest management through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program across Ontario and Manitoba. “CCSIC adds its voice to the It Takes a Forest initiative to help raise awareness on the environmental, social, and economic wealth that public forests offer.”

There are three pulp and paper mills in Northwestern Ontario.

Resolute Forest Products is located in Thunder Bay. Domtar in Dryden, Ontario and AV Terrace Bay Inc, in Terrace Bay, Ontario.

These mills produce an array of paper products.

In addition, Northwestern Ontario is home to composite mills like Weyerhauser in Kenora and Norbord in Barwick. Composite mills make board panels and other lumber products from chips, wafers, flakes and sawdust.

By far the largest component of the region’s forestry industry are its numerous sawmills. There were 26 sawmills operating in Northwestern Ontario as of February, 2019. Among the large sawmills, Resolute Forest Products operates sawmills in Ignace, Atikokan and Thunder Bay along with several contractors. Eacom Timber operates in Ear Falls. Sawmills operate in Kenora, Longlac, Fort Page 90 92

Frances and other communities to mention a few.

As in the mining sector, the forestry sector has implemented innovative agreements with Indigenous communities. Nakina Lumber and the Agoke Lumber Limited Partnership (ALLP) developed a joint ventre to re-open the Nakina lumber mill. It has a goal of hiring 75 percent Indigenous workers. The Agoke Lumber Limited Partnership consists of the Aroland, Eabametoon and Marten Falls First Nations.

An innovative development in forestry is the opening of bio product mills that use forest products to create electricity by cogeneration utilizing wood and other plant waste to produce wood pellets used to generate energy.

The Whitesands First Nations located near Armstrong, Ontario has formed the Sagatay Cogeneration Limited Partnership (LP) and Sagaty Wood Pellets LP. facility will consume more than 5,000 cubic metres of forest resources per year and will also produce wood pellets for use in wood stoves.

The operations are located in an industrial park called the Bio-Energy Centre.

In Atikokan, BioPower Sustainable Energy Corporation, plant produces commercial grade wood pellets, which are used at the Ontario Power Generation plant nearby.

In May 2019, FPInnovations and Resolute Forest Products Inc. opened a new bio-plant in Thunder Bay, with the capacity to treat 100 metric tons of biomass annually. The bio-refinery pilot plant produces lignin and sugars for use in the development of innovative

bio-products, such as wood adhesives, animal feed and composites.

“I want to commend FPInnovations and Resolute Forest Products on creating a unique partnership that helps our city, and the entire region, continue to build a strong value added forestry sector as well as a green economy,” said Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro.

“This project in its initial phases has created a number of jobs and has the potential to become a key employer in our region in the future,” Mayor Mauro added.

The ability of Northwestern Ontario to grow in mining and forestry and every other aspect of creating thriving communities is the skilled construction industry.

The Construction Association of Thunder Bay represents over 214 professional builders, specialty trade contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, design consultants and infrastructure builders active in Northwestern Ontario. The construction industry builds and maintains roads, new mines and mills, stores and homes that shape the communities.

Canadian Trade-Ex and it`s industry partners are proud to host the largest ever showcase of natural resources that bring economic prosperity to Northwestern Ontario. Stay tuned for more developments about a truly unique experience that will showcase the mining, forestry and construction sectors of Northwestern Ontario.

CEN CAN EXPO CENTRAL CANADA’S RESOURCES

THUNDER BAY - ON CLE Grounds

SEPTEMBER 9-10 2020

Featuring

300 + Exhibits Showcasing the latest in technologies & services for Mining - Forestry - Construction

For Complete Event Agenda go to

www.cencanexpo.ca

Book Your Booth Today

705-264-2251 Page 93

Innovation & Technology

Key to Deep Mining

By Frank Giorno

Photo (MiningLife) : Panel on Barriers to Innovation in Mining (left to right), Roger Emdin, Chair, CEMI; Janice Zinck, CanmetMINING; Keiran Swanton, Glencore Kidd Operations; Fred Stanford, Torex Gold Resources; Alex Henderson, Alex Henderson Consulting and Samantha Espley, Vale.

As surface deposits of minerals and metals are depleting the future of mining in Canada and globally will increasingly turn to deeper underground mining.

A conference orgnized by the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) and IConnect in Toronto on September 19 and 20, The Future of Deep Mining 2019, examined how innovation and technology will be central to making the deeper mines of the future safe, more productive and profitable.

The opening panel discussed the barriers to innovation and how they can be overcome.

The panel considered how an economic case has to be made for ultra-deep hard-rock mining for gold and base metals like copper, nickel, lead and zinc. Reversing a decade long decline and increasing mining productivity was considered the key. This would be Page 90 94 92

accomplished by bringing new orebodies into production faster, safer and more efficiently.

Through exploration at greater depths mining companies are finding more deposits to mine. But the deeper a mining company ventures the more the costs increase.

The conference heard presentations on sustaining profitability by reducing energy costs in ventilation and transportation and by making mucking, and ore extraction more efficient.

For example, additional costs are incurred because of the need for increased operational costs such as ventalition and cooling costs.

Vale Sudbury’s Creighton Mine has been operating for over 100 years and is 7,800 feet deep. Kidd Operation in Timmins is the deepest base metal mine in the world and currently has reached 9,600 feet and considerable cost is expended ventilating and cooling.

Energy costs are being reduced by companies like Vale and Glen-

core by introducing battery electric transportation vehicles that are less expensive to run than diesel.

In addition the also reduce energy costs due to ventilation and cooling because they generate way less heat that diesel trucks and equipment.

Vale’s Creighton Mine in Sudbury uses a natural heat exchange system which stores winter air and releases to lower the temperature in mine. Negar Saeidi, Mining Engineer, at Vale said this approach saves the company $5.2 million in yearly electricity and natural gas costs. Saeidi also haled the use of battery electric vechicles as essential for the deep mining operation at Creighton Mine.

“Without battery electric vehicles we could not mine at 2.5 km deep as we do at Creighton Mine,” she said.

Future mines will also need to reduce costs by implementing ventilation and cooling on demand systems so energy will be directed

Mining companies like Kirkland Lake Gold, Vale, Glencore and Newmont Goldcorp

Embrace battery electric vehicles only to the area(s) where work will be occuring. Thereby saving on wasted energy costs.

Another cooling system of the future was explained by Dr. Daniel Cluff, CEO of CanMIND Associates, he examined cryogenicbased chilling as a way of cooling deep mines.

“It’s cold liquid air that you can store and pump anywhere you need it during the summer when temperatures in the mine are higher,” he said.

Today, mining companies such as Vale, Glencore and Newmont Goldcorp are embracing battery electric vehicles not only for conserving energy costs, but also because they generate no emissions and improve the air quality and health of people working underground.

Paul Summers of Miller Technology cited the benefits of going electric as being in both health and costs. No emissions are produced and they are as easy to drive as a Tesla electric car.

Maintenance of truck axel rotation can be monitored so they can be repaired without suffering down time. Maintenance costs are also reduced because the brakes produce very little heat and there is less wear and tear compared to diesel driven trucks.

Brian Huff, co-founder and V.P. of Technology for Artisan Vehicles showed another advantage of BEV that recharge themselves

Brian Huff, V.P. of Technology for Artisan Vehicles, speaks on the operational advantages of using battery electric vehicles in mining. by recycling the small amount of heat produced in braking.

Artisan Vehicles such as those used at Kirkland Lake Gold’s Macassa Mine and Vale’s Coleman Mine produce nine times less heat as most heat goes into recharging the battery. A vehicle such as a scoop truck can make 50 trips on a battery charge meaning that the battery must be completely recharged every other day.

Ken Schroeder, the Digital Product Manager at Epiroc addressed the need for mining companies to improve efficiencies through digitizing and data collection.

He described a pilot project, the Mobilaris Mining Intelligence system as the backbone for data collection. The information can be deployed to ensure mining operations such as mucking and scooping are carried out efficient-

ly. This leads to more ore being transported with less truck movements thereby reducing waste.

Working at deeper levels, rock stress and the need for ground stability becomes very important.

Monitoring of rock stress and seismic activity is required to enhance safety and to protect the lives of employees. Stronger more tensile meshing for rock bolting is being developed and utilized in deep underground mine.

Traditional mining consists of four major activities: drilling, blasting, ore transport and ground support.

Mining at greater depths requires improved technology to make drilling and ore transport more efficient and blasting and ground support improved to keep the work area safer. Ultimately, keeping the mine safer will lead to greater automation and reduced number of people at the rockface.

Page 93 95

All-Electric

Borden Lake Project

has “GREEN” light

By Kevin Vincent

The world of mine safety and mine rescue took on a whole new meaning in late September when Newmont Goldcorp officially christened the Borden Lake Gold Project near Chapleau, Ontario.

“Today is an exciting day for Northern Ontario,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Mines, Northern Development, and Minister of Indigenous Affairs.

“Mining is a critical industry in our province, and I am proud to be in attendance today to see the official opening of Newmont Goldcorp’s Borden Mine.

Opening Canada’s first all-electric mine is a major accomplishment, and I am proud that Ontario is the host of this impressive site. Today again reaffirms Ontario’s commitment to the mining and minerals industry and confidently signals that Northern Ontario is open for business, and open for jobs.”

The Ford government’s commitment to not only supporting but enhancing Ontario’s mining industry was on full display as Rickford joined with Newmont Goldcorp officials to cut the ceremonial ribbon declaring the all-electric mine open.

Also in attendance were: Chief Page 94 96

Keeter Corston, Chapleau Cree First Nation; Chief Anita Stephens, Chapleau Ojibwe First Nation; Chief Cheryl St.Denis, Brunswick House First Nation; Chief Pat Tangie, Michipicoten First Nation; Michael Levesque, Mayor of Chapleau; George Pirie, Mayor of Timmins; Todd White, Newmont Goldcorp’s Regional Senior Vice President for North America; and Marc Lauzier, General Manager, Porcupine and Borden Mines and Gilles Bisson.

The 100 percent owned Borden mine features state-of-the-art health and safety controls, digital mining technologies and processes, and low-carbon energy vehicles – all anchored in a mutually beneficial partnership with local communities. Borden is expected to achieve commercial production in the fourth quarter of this year.

In a news release at the event, the company said Borden’s electric underground fleet will eliminate diesel particulate matter from the underground environment and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

This will help reduce energy costs, protect employee health and minimize impacts to the environment.

“Borden represents an exciting

Greg Rickford, Ontario’s Minister of Energy, Mines, Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs, was proud to announce the opening of the first all electric mine geological and economic opportunity in a new mining district in Ontario, a new source of ore for Newmont Goldcorp’s Porcupine Gold Mines camp in Timmins, and a source of sustainable value for employees, First Nations and local communities. Borden is fully permitted to operate, and Partnership Agreements have been signed with local First Nations,” the company stated.

Ore from Borden is processed at the existing mill at Newmont Goldcorp’s Porcupine Gold Mines in Timmins, 180 km east of the project site.

At 1,000 square kilometres, Borden’s land package represents additional exploration upside as the Borden deposit is open at depth. Acquisition unlocked value by leveraging Porcupine’s existing milling complex – located 180km north east.

The value of Borden to the company means it will lower cost production, extending the life of Porcupine’s assets.

The Federal and Provincial Government acknowledged the project’s leadership and granted Borden $5M each towards the electrification of the mine.

“We are excited to officially open Borden today,” said Todd White, Regional Senior Vice President North America, Newmont Goldcorp.

“This achievement is a result of impressive teamwork and collaboration over several years to bring this project to life.

The world and society’s expectations are changing, and our in-

dustry must continue to advance and responsibly leverage technology to make our mines safer for our workers, more productive, and more environmentally friendly. Carried out in partnership with the local communities, and implemented according to best practices, Borden brings significant benefits to Ontario and will continue to do so for many years,” he added.

“This is the first time our local signatories have participated in a single mining project. The development of Borden presented the opportunity to build a mine that would coexist with its neighbours, including nearby First Nations communities and cottagers. We were very mindful of its small environmental and physical footprint and the close proximity to Borden Lake. Our collaboration reflects Newmont Goldcorp’s commitment to protecting the environment and

supporting our social and cultural practices leading to a very positive experience for our communities,” said Chief Keeter Corston, Chapleau Cree First Nation.

Newmont Goldcorp is the world’s leading gold company and a producer of copper, silver, zinc and lead.

Newmont Goldcorp’s portfolio of assets, Todd White, Newmont Goldcorp’s Regional prospects and talent Senior Vice President for North America is anchored in favourable mining jurisdictions in North America, South America, Australia and Africa. Newmont Goldcorp is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and is widely recognized for its principled environmental, social and governance practices. Newmont Goldcorp is an industry leader in value creation, supported by robust safety standards, superior execution and technical proficiency. Newmont Goldcorp was founded in 1921 and has been publicly traded since 1925.

Page 95 97

MINING SERVICE Even the most dependable equipment needs a new part or a refurbished replacement to extend its life of hard wear and tear. CRD Creighton offers a full range of service and repairs for mining equipment; drills, shovels, trucks, excavators, and supply OEM parts for all corresponding equipment you’ll need to keep the Mine humming with a productive fleet.

Our 50 plus years of knowledge and expertise in the industry consulting and providing the know-how to reduce downtime and maintain the upkeep of your mining fleet has earned us loyal customers who we look after with the best of parts and tools. We are experienced with all OEM brands of skidsteers, excavators and truck repairs.

CRD Creighton also provides Field Mechanics who are certified and fully tooled to provide the best of service and repairs with experience of troubleshooting issues you may have at the site.

Proactively tending to your vehicles/equipment maintenance schedule is a practice we believe in from experience and to provide that to our customers with the right

SUDBURY knowledge of tools and parts is an intrinsic attitude we have at CRD Creighton. Call us to know more about our contract-based service offers or just drop in for regular service at our fully equipped facilities at Sudbury and Mississauga.

60A Magill Street Walden Industrial Park Lively ON P3Y 1K7 Canada PHONE: 1 (705) 806-0123

PHONE: 1 (705) 806-0123 • CRDCREIGHTON.COM Page 98

CREIGHTON ROCK DRILL LTD.

WE DO MINING

WE’RE EQUIPPED FOR ON SITE SERVICING

CRD LOCATIONS Sudbury

60A Magill Street, Walden Industrial Park, Lively ON P3Y 1K7, Canada PHONE: 1 (705) 806-0123

Boisbriand

4001 Rue Lavoisier, Boisbriand QC J7H 1N1, Canada PHONE: 1 (450) 435-2555

Ottawa

Unit 4 –151 Tansley Drive, Reis Industrial Park, Carp ON K0A 1L0, Canada PHONE: 1 (613) 831-7278

Timmins

Mississauga

Dartmouth

Washago

Moncton

Stratford

Unit 6 - 440 Algonquin Blvd. East Timmins ON P4N 1B7, Canada PHONE: 1 (705) 477-4938 Unit 2 - 65 John Savage Avenue Dartmouth NS B3B 2C9, Canada PHONE: 1 (902) 431-7625 New Brunswick, Canada PHONE: 1 (506) 875-1122

(Head Office)

2222 Drew Road, Mississauga ON L5S 1B1, Canada PHONE:1 (905) 673-8200 3206 Coopers Falls Road Severn Bridge ON P0E 1N0, Canada PHONE: 1 (705) 345-4900 Ontario, Canada PHONE: 1 (519) 949-3387

PHONE: 1 (705) 806-0123 • CRDCREIGHTON.COM

Page 99

Page 100