Smelter Inquest Wrapping Up

- Pete Walker, MFL Health And Safety Representative

In Flin Flon, during the early morning hours of August 8, 2000 Steve Ewing, Rolly Pruden and their co-workers were washing dust from the beams, walls and ceilings of the area above the copper melting furnace of Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting's refinery in preparation for rebuilding the furnace's brickwork.

The furnace had been shut of at 11 p.m. August 7 and the washing down of dust had begun about 11:30 p.m. Two hours and fifteen minutes later, sufficient amounts of water had accumulated in the furnace that somehow became mixed with molten metal under the surface. Brother's Steve and Rolly were directly above this volatile mixture when a series of explosions occurred. Twelve Workers suffered life changing injuries as a result of the explosion and Brother Steve Ewing, a young father of four children, died of his severe burns in hospital.

Four years later on January 13, 2004 Court was convened in Flin Flon to begin hearing evidence at an Inquest into the death of Brother Steve Ewing. This inquest was to find out the facts and circumstances that led to the death of Brother Steve and to make recommendations so no other worker will die in similar circumstances. The hearing of that evidence concluded May 29 with the calling of the last witness, Brother Tom Lindsey, United Steelworkers Local 7106 health and safety representative.

In total, 23 witnesses who were workers and managers testified during the hearings about the events, the planning and the systems in place that led to this catastrophic event. Expert reports and many other documents were submitted as evidence and witnesses testified about their knowledge of the laws, regulations and management programs designed to protect workers. Much of the testimony was heart rending especially for those injured workers and their family members affected by this tragedy who attended Court faithfully for the entire four year duration.

The next stage of the Inquest will be the circulation of the testimony transcripts and then the Judge will call together those with standing who are, the Manitoba Federation of Labour, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the United Steelworkers Union, the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers, the Union of Welders and Boilermakers, the Workplace Safety and Health Division - Province of Manitoba and Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co.

Once we have all gathered in the Court room in Flin Flon, we will begin oral submissions of our findings and recommendations. The Judge will then proceed to write and submit a report to the Medical Examiner, Dr Balachandra, on the circumstances of Steve's death and his recommendations on ways of preventing a re-occurrence.

Once the session is complete, the MFL will be providing further information.