New Mines Regulation Welcomed by MFL President Kevin Rebeck

Manitoba Federation of Labour President Kevin Rebeck said the new Operations of Mines Regulation announced on December 14 by Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard should improve workplace safety and health conditions in Manitoba's mining industry.

"Mining is a very hazardous occupation and the men and women employed in it deserve to have the highest health and safety standards possible," said Rebeck. "Working people have an expectation that they'll be going home to their family and friends after working a shift. A key element in delivering on that expectation is the delivery of an effective framework of Safety and Health laws and regulation by the provincial government."

Minister Howard said, "The updated mines regulation provides clearer direction for employers and workers and will help to build on the success we've experienced in reducing our injury rate by over 40 per cent since 2000."

The Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act was updated and improved in 2002, and a new Workplace Safety and Health Regulation was implemented in 2007. The new mining regulation announced December 14 is the latest addition to the tools used by inspectors in order to make Manitoba's workplaces as safe as possible.

"The key to making sure these measures have a positive impact on the injuries and fatalities statistics," said Rebeck, "is to have an adequate number of inspectors in place to enforce them. It is to the government's credit that the number of safety and health officers hired to work across the province has doubled since 1999. According to the government news release:

"...the regulation addresses recommendations from the 2008 judicial inquest report on the fatal smelter explosion at Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting in 2000 and other recommendations identified through consultation with stakeholders including:

• stronger limitations on tethering workers to remote-controlled equipment,
• stricter safety procedures when workers use water or other potentially dangerous substances near molten material,
• specific instruction for inspection and maintenance of raise climbers and the location of underground refuge stations,
• stronger requirements to ventilate vehicle emissions from mobile equipment underground, and
• updated technical standards for roll-over and falling-object protection on vehicles.

The updated Operation of Mines Regulation takes effect April 1. The province is developing resources to help employers and employees better understand the new regulation by providing:

• informational bulletins highlighting the updated requirements, and
• mines regulation summary sheets covering the entire regulation by parts."