Mine Safety Award Rescinded
Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
accepted Westray management's statistics without checking
Mine Safety Award Rescinded
Company Officials Fudged Accident Statistics
This article appeared in
The Gazette
Montreal, Tuesday, May 5, 1998
Westray Coal Inc. has been stripped of a prestigious mine-safety award bestowed [eleven days] before its Nova Scotia mine exploded, killing 26 men.
The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum rescinded the John T. Ryan Trophy last month, based on an inquiry's finding that company officials fudged accident statistics.
It is the first time the 57-year-old award, given annually to the Canadian coal mine with the fewest accidents, has been rescinded. The Westray inquiry reported in December that mine management was derelict in its duty to train miners and run a safe mine.
The Ryan award, administered by the Montreal-based institute, is based on the ratio of hours worked to the number of reportable injuries.
Westray reported 15 injuries in 1991, but inquiry evidence showed at least three other injuries were not disclosed.
The company won the award on April 9, 1992, one month before the massive explosion of gas and dust.
Westray manager Gerald Phillips and underground manager Roger Parry are to stand trial next year on charges of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing the miners' deaths.
Mine Safety Award Rescinded
John T. Ryan Trophy rescinded by the
Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
This article appeared on the Canadian Press wire service
Monday, May 4, 1998
HALIFAX: — Westray Coal Inc. has been stripped of a prestigious mine-safety award bestowed [eleven days] before its Nova Scotia mine exploded, killing 26 men.
The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum rescinded the John T. Ryan Trophy last month, based on the Westray inquiry's finding that company officials fudged accident statistics.
But pressure from the United Steelworkers of America, Canada's largest mining union which represents surviving Westray miners, was also a factor.
"It was clearly a result of all our locals, often with the support of their employers, sending letters demanding that this be done," said Andy King, the union's national health and safety co-ordinator.
It is the first time the 57-year-old award, given annually to the Canadian coal mine with the fewest accidents, has been rescinded.
The Westray inquiry reported in December that mine management was derelict in its duty to train miners and run a safe mine.
The Ryan award was "sadly ironic in light of all the other evidence of the unsafe, unhealthy and oppressive environment in which the Westray miners worked."
The award, administered by the Montreal-based institute, is based on the ratio of hours worked to the number of reportable injuries.
Westray reported 15 injuries in 1991, but inquiry evidence showed at least three other injuries were not disclosed.
"When this information is taken into account, Westray Coal would not have been eligible," Peter McBride, secretary of the award committee, said in a news release.
The institute reserves the right to check accident figures submitted by entrants against workers compensation records.
But King believes this is the first time an award-winner's record has been verified.
King has called for spot audits or on-site inspections to prevent inaccuracies.
Westray won the award on April 9, 1992, exactly one month before a massive explosion of gas and dust destroyed the mine.
Inquiry evidence suggested the award lulled government inspectors into a false sense of security. It was also used to counter at least one miner's complaints of unsafe conditions.
Westray manager Gerald Phillips and underground manager Roger Parry are to stand trial next year on charges of manslaughter and causing the miners' deaths through criminal negligence.
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