A Ministry of Labour investigation into an incident where an employee of a contractor hired by Vale was hurt in the company's Stobie Mine July 20 is ongoing.

The 32-year-old worker, who is employed by Plateau Mining, had been standing between a forklift and a scoop tram at the 2,400-foot level of the mine at 9 a.m. that day, when a second scoop tram struck the forklift, Matt Blajer, a spokesperson for the ministry said.

The worker was pinned between the forklift and the scoop tram he had been standing between. He suffered a broken right leg in the incident, Blajer said.

“Our inspector happened to be at the mine when it happened, so he went down and investigated right away,” he said. “The investigation is still ongoing.”

Blajer said the ministry investigator initially froze the scene of the accident, but it has since been released to Vale.

The investigator has issued an order to take the machines involved in the accident until they've passed a mechanic's inspection, as well as an order to see the training records for the involved employees.

Vale shut down production at the mine for after the accident occurred, but it resumed later the same day.

Posted by Arron Pickard