By Keith Lacey
The four men and one woman who make up the jury at a coroner?s inquest into the death of a veteran Inco Ltd. miner took off their civilian clothes and donned workclothes and hard hats Thursday.
The jury had received permission to visit the 4,000-foot level crusher area of Inco?s Copper Cliff South Mine, where James Plummer, 55, was killed by an accidental blast around 1:15 am April 7, 1999.
Plummer had just prepared an explosive charge in an attempt to clear a huge chunk of ore which had become trapped in the jaws of the crusher he and partner Joanne Muldoon were operating.
Muldoon earlier testified Plummer had uttered the words ?it?s OK Joe (her nickname), which was his normal communication? when he had placed a charge and cleared the area so she could set off the blast.
During her testimony, an emotional Muldoon recommended to the jury that they should visit the area where the accident took place so they could get some idea of just how huge the crusher is and how procedures to clear work areas and guard them are enforced during blasting.
In earlier testimony, supervisor Roy Roque testified it was his belief another worker uttered the words ?OK Joe? and not Plummer in the seconds before Muldoon fired the shot to ignite the blast that killed Plummer.
Muldoon testified she was positive it was Plummer who uttered the words.
Several workers had gathered around Muldoon as is procedure to clear all work areas on the entire level of a mine before any blast takes place, said Roque.
Roque assumed it was co-worker Rick Teahan who uttered the words and that Plummer?s radio was off when the accident took place.
It?s proper procedure to use first and last names and give exact descriptions of what?s about to happen during all underground work, but that didn?t happen the night in question, said Roque.
If Plummer had heard that Muldoon was about to ignite a blast at the 4,000 crusher, he likely would have grabbed the explosive device immediately, threw it away, run for cover and been out of danger, said Roque.
Teahan testified he helped clear co-workers from the area before the blast and thought he heard Plummer?s voice on the radio saying the blasting cone had fallen and he had to replace it.
Development miner Bruce Gauthier testified he got out of production mining after Plummer?s death.
The business had become ?too scary? and you had to trust radio communication far too much. He had difficulty placing his life in the hands of a co-worker on the other end of a radio transmission.
The jury is expected to make several recommendations as the inquest is expected to wrap up today after final submissions by all members with standing.
