Mine safety review sets dates for public consultations

The Ministry of Labour has released dates it will host public consultations as part of its year-long review of mining health and safety.

The public consultations in Sudbury are planned for Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3, 2014. The Ministry of Labour has not yet announced a time or location for both consultations.

Public consultations are also planned for Timmins on March 3, and in Kirkland Lake on April 1.

The review's advisory group, chaired by George Gritiziotis, Ontario's chief prevention officer, has scheduled four more meetings in Sudbury, on April 8, June 10, Sept. 10 and Nov. 26, 2014.

During the advisory committee's second meeting, on Feb. 19, members established three key priority areas the review would need to investigate.

Those were: the impact technology has on health and safety in the mining sector; the internal responsibility system in the industry; and the capacity for government and the sector to address health and safety needs through enforcement and training.

Industry stakeholders, and members of the public – including mining industry workers and their family members – will be invited to share their views and experiences, regarding mining safety, at the public consultations.