Employees are returning to work at Vale's five Sudbury-area mines following a fatal accident late last month.

The return to work process will continue in the days ahead, according to a Feb. 6 press release from Vale.

Upon returning to work, mine employees and managers will be working together in the short term on tasks associated with safety and risk management, the press release said.

Production will recommence once outstanding safety items are addressed.

Operations were temporarily suspended after miner Stephen Perry was fatally injured Jan. 29 while working in the main ore body at the 4,215-foot level of Coleman Mine in Levack.

With stockpiles of ore are available for processing at the company’s mill and smelter, there is no anticipated impact on production as a result of the temporary suspension of operations, according to the press release.

“Mine managers and supervisors, along with Worker Health and Safety Representatives, have been working on plans to address immediate safety items in the workplace,” Kelly Strong, vice-president mining and milling (North Atlantic) and general manager, Ontario Operations, said in the press release.

“Similar meetings have occurred across all of our surface plants and other departments in Sudbury. The best way to achieve our safety goals is by working together to ensure that hazards across all work areas are managed in an effective and timely way.”

Posted by Arron Pickard