Diavik Fined over Mine Worker's Injury
September 18, 24
(IDEX Online) - Diavik Diamond Mine has been fined CAN $125,000 (USD 92,000) for a "preventable accident" in which a worker suffered a severe hand injury.
He was using a hose to clean a rock fill mixer, Northwest Territories' Territorial Court in Yellowknife, Canada, heard.
The hose dropped into the machine - which makes cement to fill excavated areas - and pulled his left hand in with it.
He had three fingers amputated. One was saved during surgery.
The court heard there were no guards or safety measures to prevent access to moving parts.
Prosecutor Roger Shepard said the accident was preventable. Instead of switching the machine off, it was allowed to run at slow speed during daily cleaning, he said.
Diavik, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, pleaded guilty to one count of failing to implement and maintain work practices that are safe and that do not present undue risk to the health of workers.
The company was fined CAN $125,000 to be paid to the Workers' Protection Fund along with a 15 per cent victim fine surcharge.
Pic shows Diavik mine.