Mining company suspends work pending safety checks
Two men were injured in a workplace incident at the Valentine gold mine in central Newfoundland, prompting an ongoing investigation by provincial officials.
The incident occurred Wednesday when a pulling mechanism connected to a chute used for transporting material malfunctioned, according to a spokesperson for Equinox Gold, the company that owns the mine.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed they responded to the scene. The province’s Occupational Health and Safety Division has launched an investigation into the matter.
Equinox Gold said two men working in the area suffered serious leg injuries. They were transported by helicopter to James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre in Gander, where they were treated and later released.
The company said it immediately issued a stop-work order for the affected section of the mine and will not resume operations in that area until the mechanism is reengineered and passes a new safety inspection, CBC News reported. Equinox Gold also confirmed it is conducting its own internal investigation and will share findings with provincial occupational health and safety inspectors.
Equinox Gold acquired the Valentine project from Calibre Mining earlier this year. The company describes the site, located about 80 kilometres southwest of Millertown, as one of the world’s top mining jurisdictions.
When fully operational, Valentine is expected to be the largest gold mine in Atlantic Canada. Company figures show the project spans 32 kilometres with multiple deposits, a projected mine life of 14 years, and an expected average annual gold production of 195,000 ounces for the first 12 years.
