Worker was found unresponsive at Côté Gold Mine
Four orders and two requirements have been issued following the death of a worker at the Côté Gold Mine in Gogama, Ontario.
On Friday, a worker was found unconscious, and the worker who found him “was not able to revive him,” according to Graeme Jennings, vice-president of investor relations with IAMGOLD, which owns and operates the mine.
Jennings tells CTV News Northern Ontario, “it’s a tragic event…we express our deepest condolences,” to the victim’s loved ones.
The man was not employed by the mine and worked for a contractor. He was not on shift at the time of the incident, and the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation by both provincial authorities and the police.
In a statement emailed to Canadian Occupational Safety, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development also express remorse. “Our sincere condolences go out to the worker's family, friends, and colleagues."
In addition, the ministry also revealed that an inspector visited the mine site, and two orders were issued to IAMGOLD. Two orders and two requirements were also issued the reported employer, Moreau. Details about the nature of these orders and requirements have not been disclosed pending the ongoing investigation.
Côté Gold Mine, located off Highway 144 between Timmins and Sudbury, commenced construction in 2020 and is expected to have a lifespan of 16-18 years. In its initial six years of operation, the mine is projected to produce an annual yield of 495,000 ounces of gold, with an average production of 365,000 ounces per year over its full 18-year operation, starting in the fourth quarter of 2023.
This tragic event has deeply saddened the mining community, and efforts to ensure worker safety will undoubtedly be a priority moving forward.
