Ministry orders Windsor Salt to improve training: union
Ministry of Labour investigators have written eight more orders to K+S Windsor Salt in connection to an accident at the Ojibway Mine in early April that sent one worker to hospital with serious injuries.
Ministry spokeswoman Janet Deline confirmed the orders and that the investigation into the incident, which occurred while preparations were underway for blasting at the underground salt mine, is ongoing but would give no further details.
Bill Wark, president of Unifor Local 1959, said the eight new orders from the ministry are in addition to six made shortly after the investigation began.
“(They’re) still requesting training records, request the company perform risk assessments and the company provide additional training, as in hard rock common core training to the workers,” Wark said, explaining the additional instruction is a “more enhanced, specific type of a training” geared to the “nuances between soft rock and hard rock.”
Plant manager Mike Soave refused to comment on the accident or the investigation when reached Wednesday.
“I really don’t have any comment at this time. Thank you,” Soave said.
Wanting to protect the injured worker’s privacy, Wark wouldn’t give any details on his recovery.
“As far as the injured worker, he’s recovering in the hospital from some serious injuries,” he said.
Ministry officials continue to attend the plant, Wark said, adding “everyone’s still working.
“They came back at the end of April. The ministry just comes back as required if they have any more questions.”
Wark said the ministry has up to a year to complete its investigation.
Deline said the inspector’s report won’t be available until the investigation is complete.
“As for how long the investigation will take … (it) will depend on the complexities of the case,” she said. “Once an investigation is complete, ministry staff review the investigation report.
“If a prosecution for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act is warranted, the ministry will lay charges up to one year from the date of an incident or the date when an inspector becomes aware of an alleged offence.”