Government of Ontario takes steps to protect the backbone of the province's economy with new ventilation and exposure guidelines
In the heart of Ontario’s mining industry, thousands of workers descend deep into the earth everyday to extract the minerals that power our everyday life. For decades, these workers have been working alongside an invisible threat – diesel exhaust emissions, the toxic cocktail of chemicals produced by the very machinery that powers their work.
According to a report by the U.S. Department of Labour’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in 2016, miners can be exposed to over 100 times the typical environmental concentration of diesel exhaust. This toxic mixture of chemicals has been linked to a range of health issues, including lung cancer. A 2011 report by the Occupational Cancer Research Centre found that out of approximately 560 lung cancers and 200 suspected bladder cancers in Canada attributed to diesel engine exhaust, mine workers accounted for 39.3% and 10%, respectively. These staggering figures underscore the serious health risks that miners face daily and emphasize the need for greater awareness of the hazards of diesel exhaust in the mining industry.
Recognizing this need, the United Steelworkers Local 6500 launched a public awareness campaign last fall advocating for change in Ontario’s mining industry – the backbone of the province’s economy – to better protect its 30,000+ workers. This increased attention, combined with results from recent coroner’s reports, led the Ontario government to act – and an announcement made this week by Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton could signal a turning point for the health and safety of the province’s mining workforce.
At a media conference held at the NORCAT Underground Centre on April 11th, Minister McNaughton announced new legislation aimed at improving the ventilation requirements in underground mines and reducing the exposure of miners to harmful diesel exhaust emissions. These regulatory amendments, which will come into effect on July 1, 2023 with others in effect on September 1, 2023, will require employers to improve the ventilation systems in their workplaces to reduce the concentration of diesel exhaust emissions. These regulations will set a new exposure limit for mine workers, which will be the most protective in North America. Under the new regulation, mine worker’s exposure to elemental carbon from diesel exhaust emissions will be limited to a time-weighted average of 0.12 milligrams per cubic metre of air – a 70% reduction in comparison to the current exposure limit of 0.4 milligrams per cubic metre.
The Ontario government’s commitment to improving the safety of miners has been welcomed by industry experts. As an organization with a long history rooted in the promotion of health and safety in the global mining industry, NORCAT supports the new regulations as a significant step towards a safer environment for mine workers. Speaking on behalf of NORCAT as the government’s media conference, NORCAT Chief Operating Office Jason Bubba said that the organization is proud to support the Government of Ontario’s commitment to prioritizing the safety of Ontario’s mining workforce, noting that the changes would help contribute to a healthier, safer and more productive future for the industry.
The Ontario government’s move to prioritize the health and safety of mine workers is an important step towards protecting the health of its workforce and creating a safer, more sustainable mining industry. By working together, government, labour and employees can continue to improve conditions for Ontario’s every day heroes: its mine workers.
Learn more:
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1002918/ontario-introducing-new-rules-to-keep-miners-safe