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Two Vale employees killed at Stobie Mine

UPDATED June 9 at 1:45 p.m. It's a “very rough day” for Steelworkers Local 6500 members after two of their colleagues were killed in an accident at Vale's Stobie Mine late on June 8, the union's president, Rick Bertrand, said.
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Two miners were killed in an accident at Stobie Mine late June 8. File photo.

UPDATED June 9 at 1:45 p.m.

It's a “very rough day” for Steelworkers Local 6500 members after two of their colleagues were killed in an accident at Vale's Stobie Mine late on June 8, the union's president, Rick Bertrand, said.

Bertrand said he learned of the accident after receiving a phone call shortly after midnight June 9. 

The two Vale employees were fatally injured while working underground at the 3,000-foot level of the company’s Stobie Mine in Sudbury, a press release from the company stated. Mine rescue was dispatched, but both victims were pronounced dead at the scene, the press release said.

Bertrand said the victims were both men, and worked as miners at Stobie Mine.

Two miners were killed in an accident at Stobie Mine late June 8. File photo.



Two miners were killed in an accident at Stobie Mine late June 8. File photo.

The immediate families have been notified. However, the names of the employees are being withheld pending completion of the notification process, the Vale press release said. 

Bertrand said he couldn't release any more details of the accident at this point. More details of the accident are expected to be released at a Vale press conference at 11 a.m. June 9.

“This is a tragic, tragic day, and our condolences and our hearts go out to the families that just lost their sons or husbands,” Bertrand said.

The union is offering emotional support and counselling to both the victims' families and co-workers, Bertrand said.

The matter is being investigated by the Greater Sudbury Police Service, the Ministry of Labour, and representatives of Vale and the United Steelworkers Local 6500.

Bertrand said the union's health and safety chair and Stobie Mine workers' representative are representing Local 6500 in the investigation.

“This is a devastating loss and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends and co-workers of these employees,” Jon Treen, general manager, mining and milling (Ontario operations) and general manager, Ontario operations, said in the press release.

“We are concentrating our efforts on supporting the families and our employees at the mine site, and on investigating the incident to understand exactly what occurred.”

Bertrand said it's been a few years since one of his members was killed in a workplace accident.

“Local 6500 has always been at the forefront when it comes to health and safety, and we continue to work on health and safety every day,” he said.

“It's never 100 per cent. We've got to be sure that this doesn't continue to happen.”

 

 

In a press release, Mayor Marianne Matichuk offered her condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of the deceased miners.

 

"Our city suffered a tremendous loss last night," she said, in the press release.

"On behalf of the members of council and all of the citizens of the City of Greater Sudbury, I offer my condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of the employees. Our collective thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time."


Check back to NorthernLife.ca for more on this story as it becomes available.


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