Labrador west medical audit report released
Government to implement all 11 recommendations
More can be done to protect mine workers from silica dust, according to a report released Wednesday.
The report, done by Horizon Occupational Health Solutions, makes 11 recommendations to eliminate the problems caused by mine workers’ exposure to silica dust.
Minister of Service NL Perry Trimper said the government will implement all the recommendations.
“This is a serious matter and we plan to deal with it right away,” Trimper said. “With these new recommendations, the objective isn’t to reduce silicosis cases, but to completely eliminate them.”
The study looked at the effects of silica dust on mine workers. Most of the 636 workers who volunteered to participate in the study were retired from either the Iron Ore Co. of Canada (IOC) or Wabush mines.
According to the report, 601 of those had no suspicion of silicosis.
Thirty-five did have suspicion, 13 of which were self-reported and 22 of which were new finds of suspicion for silicosis. They were advised to have followup consultations with their family physician.
Some of Horizon’s recommendations are:
■ More testing and better monitoring of dust conditions; ■ Having one or two radiologists who specialize in chest radiology to look at X-rays of suspected cases of silicosis; ■ Having one or two respirologists as consulting specialists for people with suspected silicosis;
■ Conducting a review of the silica code of practice; ■ Providing more education for workers and physicians; and ■ Holding more inspections of workplaces, and ensuring compliance with regulations. At a news conference in Labrador City to release the report, Trimper said two occupational health and safety officers had been hired and would be based permanently in Labrador West.
In recent years, officers were flown into Labrador West to do inspections.
Both the United Steelworkers union and the Iron Ore Co. of Canada came out in support of the recommendations.
“The recommendations will go a long way to help deal with the dust issue, as long as the recommendations are followed through and enforced,” said
Ron Thomas, president of the United Steelworkers Local 5795.
“I’m particularly pleased that two occupational health and safety inspectors have been hired,” Thomas told The Aurora. “Now it’s up to the union to keep a close eye on the situation to make sure rules are followed and problems are reported and acted upon right away.”
There are still days when dust levels can be high, but these new recommendations and having two inspectors permanently hired to be in Labrador West should make vast improvements, he said.
In a statement released soon after the report was tabled, IOC director of communications and external affairs Heather Bruce-veitch said, “IOC is fully supportive of the recommendations released by Minister Perry Trimper, and is committed too working with the committee to see these implemented.”
Bruce-veitch stated the report shows that IOC is following the medical surveillance protocol mandated by the silica code of practice, and makes sure required X-rays are done and followed up.
“Education is also an important part of our role, and we continue to show employees their personal role in dust protection,” she stated.
Bruce-veitch said considerable improvements have been made in the past decades in dust monitoring and prevention, and IOC acknowledges there have been effects from dust on people who have worked there in previous decades.
She also says the company will continue to work with employees, contractors, unions and the provincial government to further reduce workers’ exposure to dust.
Labrador West MHA Graham Letto told The Aurora, “As someone who worked at the mine and lived in Labrador West for years, I am very pleased to see these recommendations which should ensure a much safer and cleaner work environment for miners in the province.”
When asked if people living in the towns of Wabush and Labrador City but not working at the mines were part of the study, Trimper said the study was specific to miners, but it is something that could be considered in the future.
“With these new recommendations, the objective isn’t to reduce silicosis cases, but to completely eliminate them.”
Service NL Minister Perry Trimper