HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – The jury in a coroner’s inquest into the 2009 accidental death of Sifto mine worker Murray Nesbitt directed 14 recommendations today toward the Ministry of Labour, Sifto Canada Corp. and CEP Local 16-O to help prevent similar deaths in the future.
Among its recommendations that came after two days of testimony, it encouraged the Ministry of Labour to develop a regulation for mines and mining plants that handle materials of sizes similar to the salt at Sifto salt mine to install grates with a maximum opening of eight inches by eight inches on open holes over chutes. Also among its recommendations: requirement that mine surface workers carry handheld personal radios on them at all times, installation of stop buttons outside storage areas to stop the conveyer belt, investigation of the feasibility of a remote controlled system inside the storage area so that a worker could stop the conveyer, revision to the equipment operator’s checklist to add a requirement to report damage to the grates, or grizzlies, and union promotion of the Safe Track system, which encourages workers to observe co-workers and correct behaviour that puts them at risk of injury. (For full list of recommendations, please see bottom of story.)
In final arguments, the jury heard from Teresa Donnelly, counsel for coroner Dr. Rick Mann, who presided over the inquest, that on Aug. 25, 2009 Murray Nesbitt was moving salt in storage Dome 1 when his excavator broke down sometime after 11 p.m. A call was made for a mechanic, a worker went to the basement to drain the chutes to provide better access to the excavator, and Nesbitt and co-worker Will Drennan returned to the machine to prepare for the repair. While the two were on the steel track of the machine, the salt started to move because the conveyer was started up.
Drennan grabbed Nesbitt, who asked him to call for help. Since he had no radio on hand and no way to stop the conveyer, Drennan left Nesbitt, with the salt at his chest, and ran to the basement to pull the pull chord that stopped the conveyer. When Drennan returned to Dome 1, Nesbitt was covered in salt. Co-workers began a search for him, but as they dug with shovels, the salt filled in again. The conveyer belt was started again to move the salt, and eventually a co-worker saw Nesbitt’s head below the grizzly and the conveyer was stopped. His feet and legs were visible from the basement.
“The power of the salt squeezed a 200-pound, six-foot man through a floor grate, or grizzly, that had nine openings,” Donnelly said.
The conveyer belt was cut and Nesbitt was pulled free. Paramedics on scene by that time found no vital signs and his mouth and airway were blocked by salt. He was transported to Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:35 a.m. on Aug. 26.
“Murray Nesbitt died alone in salt. A tragedy for his family, his friends, his co-workers and his employer. A tragedy for us all. Sifto Canada Corporation is a pillar of our community; Murray Nesbitt a valued and valuable asset to our community,” Donnelly said.
“Murray Nesbitt’s death was not in vain. His death has been a motivator of change. You, if you choose to do so, have the opportunity to make recommendations to continue that change,” she told the jury. In the past three years, numerous changes have been made at the mine.
A set of suggested recommendations that were agreed to by counsel for the coroner, and parties with standing – the family Murray Nesbitt, who are represented by son Jeff Nesbitt; Sifto Canada Corp., represented by Rosalind Cooper of Fasken Martineau; union representative Jim Vance, representing Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 16-O – was presented to the jury for its consideration.
Nesbitt’s son, Jeff, told the jury it’s been a difficult week for the family and for witnesses, while a half-dozen family members watched the proceedings from the gallery.
Jeff painted a picture of his father for the jury, as a father, husband, son, brother and grandfather who dedicated himself to his community as a municipal councillor, enjoyed travelling and spending time with his family, and loved operating machinery and going to work.
“On August 25, 2009, he went to work and he didn’t come home. Over 400 families at Sifto every day send fathers and husbands, sons, brothers and grandfathers to work. I hope these recommendations will make sure they all come home,” he said.
The five-member jury spent nearly four hours crafting recommendations, as follows:
Ministry of Labour -
1. The Ministry of Labour considers developing a regulation for mines and mining plants that handle materials sized similar to salt products that grizzlies/grates with a maximum opening size of eight inches by eight inches be installed on all open holes over chutes;
2. We encourage the Ministry of Labour to adopt recommendations Three to Eight as standard practice within the mining industry;
Sifto Canada Corp. -
3. All workers be given refresher training on a regular basis on safe work procedures for working around high piles;
4. In addition to the “danger open hole” signs, install signs proximate to the gates outside of surface salt storage areas to notify that an entry permit is necessary to enter the area;
5. Require mine surface workers to carry a handheld/personal radio on their person at all times;
6. Install stop buttons outside mined material storage areas to stop the conveyer belts/delivery mechanisms inside or beneath these areas;
7. Sifto Canada Corp. investigate the feasibility of a remote control system inside salt storage areas that would enable a worker inside the area to stop the conveyer belts inside or beneath these areas;
8. Sift Canada revise the equipment operator’s checklist to add a requirement to report damage to grizzlies / gates;
9. Implement regular monthly health and safety refreshers and semi-annual major health and safety training for all staff members. These activities should be more frequent in the event of a major change in procedure at the mine;
10. Implement weekly testing of emergency stop equipment, both wired and wireless, if applicable. Testing to be documented and reviewed by a supervisor on a monthly basis and missed tests to be addressed by management as required;
11. Implement a system of prioritizing and scheduling repair of damaged / failing equipment in order of major to minor importance. Investigate minimum times required to fix specific problems to aid in scheduling. Backup equipment (replacement grizzlies) available on site;
12. Investigate an alternate communication system to allow improved person-to-person communication between the surface and underground, and vice-versa.
Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union Local 16-O -
13. CEP Local 16-O should be directed to promote the use of SafeTrack amongst its members working at the Sifto salt mine in Goderich; and
Sifto Canada Corp. and CEP Local 16-O -
14. Sifto Canada Corp. and CEP Local 16-O should be directed to promote amongst supervisors and workers the use and benefits of written hazard reports.
