Lac Des Iles Mines Ltd. Fined $110,000 For Health And Safety Violation

Thunder Bay, Ont. - Lac Des Iles Mines Ltd., a Toronto mining company, pleaded guilty and was fined $110,000 on January 15, 2010, for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

On November 26, 2007, at the company's mining pit in Thunder Bay, there was a drill pattern on the ground partially loaded with explosives.  The drilled holes that had already been loaded with explosives were supposed to be identified by markers.  Some of the holes were not yet loaded and required re-drilling because of blockages.  Workers re-drilled one of the holes they believed was blocked.  They did not see a marker indicating the hole contained explosives.  However, when the drill pulled away, the workers saw there were explosives in the hole.

Lac Des Iles Mines Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that no iron or steel tool was used in a hole that contained explosives.  

The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Gene Bannon.  In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act.  The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Court Information at a Glance

Location:                    Ontario Court of Justice

                                    110 Archibald St. N

                                    Thunder Bay, Ont.

Judge:                         Justice of the Peace Gene Bannon

Date of Conviction:     January 15, 2010

Defendant:                  Lac Des Iles Mines Ltd.

Matter:                       Occupational Health and Safety

Conviction:                Ontario Regulation 854, Regulation 139(3)

Crown Counsel:         Catherine Glaister

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