SUDBURY – A 36-year-old man is dead and a 28-year-old man is seriously injured after an incident at Vale’s smelter in Sudbury.
A spokesman for the mining company, Kelly Strong, says the two industrial mechanics were working on a crusher Sunday night when something went wrong.
Steelworkers Local 6500 president Rick Bertrand says a pin in the crusher somehow broke off and became lodged in the machine, before it released due to pressure.
The name of the dead worker hasn’t been released, but he had two years of service with Vale and a number of years’ experience as an industrial mechanic.
Vale and the union will both be involved in looking into the tragedy, but it’s unclear whether it will be a joint investigation.
The smelter is shut down and counselling is available for workers who need it.
NDP mines critic Michael Mantha noted that this is the fourth mining death in Sudbury since 2011.
Mantha said New Democrats will continue to call for a public inquiry into mining safety, saying legislators need to do everything in their power to ensure that mines are as safe as they can possibly be.
“We need to ensure that we have laws in place that protect miners and that protect all working people,” Mantha said.
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