Page 62 Improving Safety as a Result of Changing Mining T echnology Photo MineSAFE Modular Design Refuge Chamber MineARC Systems is the global leader in refuge chambers and safety technology Contd on pg 62 Page 60 I n 2013 the Ontario Ministry of Labour s Occupational Health and Safety section under took a review of emergency response and mine rescue system to examine wheth er improvements had to be made because of the changing nature of mining The Review found that the min ing sector takes great pride in On tario s mine rescue system and is generally satisfed with the current way it is set up and operates But a number of people calle d for a review evaluating the ability of the current mine rescue system to re spond to hazards created by new technologies and mining methods and to launch efective rescue op erations as mines in Ontario get deeper and distances from the shaft increase These issues had been raised be fore as early as 1965 during the McIntyre Fire in T immins Since then mines had gotten deeper A fnal report containing 18 recom mendations was released in 2015 The recommendations called for Requiring employers to have for mal water management programs to reduce hazards related to ex cess water in areas where miners are working Enhancing ground control pro tection to track and monitor seis mic activity Mandating regular mining sector risk assessments Requiring employers to have plans to manage hazards like sil ica and diesel exhaust that cause occupational illness Consultations were held with mine management organized labour and the Ontario Mine Rescue staf A review was undertaken of coroner inquest recommendations and previous mining inquiries in cluding the Ham Commission the Burkett Commission and the Ste venson Commissions As well On tario s standards and regulations for emergency readiness and re sponse was compared to other ju risdictions A number of people from the min ing community felt it was important to review the mine rescue system in light of the changes in mining technology and methods Mines in Ontario were getting deeper and workfaces were at greater distanc es from shafts Another major milestone in the evolution of Ontario Mine Rescue and over all mine safety was the Ontario Min ing Safety Review