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Inquest begins April 22

Ontario's chief coroner's office has announced an inquest will be held into the death of a veteran Inco Ltd. miner three years ago. Frederick James Plummer, 46, was killed April 7, 1999 during a blasting accident at Inco's South mine.
Ontario's chief coroner's office has announced an inquest will be held into the death of a veteran Inco Ltd. miner three years ago.

Frederick James Plummer, 46, was killed April 7, 1999 during a blasting accident at Inco's South mine. Plummer was killed while working as part of a mining crew blasting ore near the mine's 4,000-foot level.

Inco Ltd. and supervisor Roy Roque were both charged under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act in relation to Plummer's death.

Last June, Inco was fined $650,000 after being found guilty of failing to provide necessary supervision and failing to ensure safe radio communication, while Roque was fined $8,000.

In October, Inco decided to abandon its appeal of the fine against the company and supervisor.

The inquest into Plummer's death will begin April 22 at the Sudbury Courthouse.

Plummer was killed when a co-worker accidentally set off a blasting charge Plummer had placed to try and loosen a huge chunk of rock which had jammed itself inside a crusher at the 4,000-foot around 1:20 am April 7, 1999.

Inco was found guilty of failing to ensure proper measures were carried out to ensure all blasting procedures were properly followed and failing to ensure every reasonable precaution was taken to protect a worker in relation to ensuring proper radio communication was exercised,