BY KEITH LACEY
A coroner's inquest jury made six recommendations following a week-long hearing after a mining contractor was killed on the job three years ago after suffering a seizure while working at Inco's Garson Mine.
Robert MacLeod, 46, was a supervisor with Dynatec Corp. when he fell 30 feet to his death down a Galloway in number five shaft at Garson Mine on Oct. 30, 2003.
A Galloway is a large cylindrical device which allows mining companies to transport employees, equipment and ore from underground to surface.
The inquest heard MacLeod returned to work July 14, 2003, the day after suffering a diabetic seizure and collapsing at work. During that incident July 13, MacLeod was rushed to hospital after collapsing in front of co-workers at Garson Mine.
Besides having a doctor's note, management asked MacLeod how he felt when he returned to work the next day and MacLeod responded he felt fine and Dynatec management decided he should return to full duty.
Previous witnesses testified MacLeod suffered another seizure on June 1 at work, but didn't have to be rushed to hospital on that occasion.
MacLeod got doctors' notes on both occasions which indicated his health was fine and he would be able to perform his regular duties.
It's believed that on the day he died, MacLeod suffered a third seizure, which resulted in him losing his balance. He fell 30 feet and landed on top of a huge "clam" used to dig up ore from the bottom of the Galloway.
The inquest jury recommended:
* That all return to work authorizations approved by a family doctor or attending physician should also include an employee's signature. The signature should authorize the employer to contact the family doctor or attending physician concerned, at their discretion, to confirm the authenticity and validity of the return to work authorization.
* Canadian mining companies shall provide access to medical consultation for current employees experiencing medical issues that directly effect any and all work related duties. In the case of larger companies, onsite medical personnel may be a consideration.
* All driver's license suspensions submitted by a medical doctor shall be acted upon and responded to within six to eight weeks by Ministry of Transportation and Communications in each province. All provincial departments that have a vested interest in the license suspension should be notified within six to eight weeks and follow up action taken should occur within a 12-week period and should be communicated to all parties involved.
* All decks and shaft-sinking Galloways should be equipped with kick plates measuring not less than 20 centimetres high, adjacent to open holes, irrespective of additional precautions installed, to guard against falling objects. In addition to the kick plate, it's recommended steel meshing be installed between the lower guardrail and deck surface to prevent larger objects from falling.
* In the event an employee is working independently or alone in the mine shaft environment, it's recommended the employee make contact with the hoist operator or co-workers on a regular basis to ensure individual safety. An interval of no less than 30 minutes and preferably 15 minutes is suggested.
* The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities should develop and administer a mandatory work module as part of all training programs for underground miners, which teaches the importance of personal health and well being as it relates to safety in the workplace. Topics could include, but are not limited to, nutrition, exercise, adequate sleep, mental health and the affects of alcohol and drugs on personal health and ability to work safely and not endanger themselves or others.
Dynatec is a mining contractor used often by Inco to blast ore at various underground operations in Greater Sudbury. MacLeod, who is originally from Nova Scotia, had worked for Dynatec for several years.
