Coroner's jury in Sudbury hears safety recommendations
Jury asked to consider issues around water management, barricades, and hazard reporting system
Representatives for the parties involved wrapped up their submissions to a coroner's inquest into the deaths of Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram on Friday.
Chenier and Fram were working in Vale's Stobie mine when they were killed by a run of muck in 2011.
Over most of the last two weeks, there has been testimony about excess water, the taking down of safety barricades, miscommunication and other factors that may have contributed to the uncontrolled run of muck that buried the two men.
Crown prosecutor Susan Bruce told the jury that Chenier should be home with his wife and Fram should be watching the game with his friends. She said the jury needed to ensure no other miners died like they did.
Presiding coroner, Dr. David Eden, told the jurors they represent the community, and speak for the dead.
In a joint submission from the Crown, Ministry of Labour, union, company and both families, it is recommended that the Ministry of Labour implement the recommendations contained in the Mining, Health, Safety, and Prevention Review concerning water management in a mine and the Internal Responsibility System.
The IRS is a system where workers and supervisors communicate so they can resolve hazardous situations.
The families, union and Vale made seven other submissions as well.
The jury will consider recommendations made by another coroner's inquest into the 1995 death of Clifford Bastien.
Bastien also died in a run of muck at the Stobie mine.
The jury, of three women and one man, have several days to think about the testimony and make recommendations.
The inquest is on a break while they deliberate and will re-convene next Thursday, May 7 at 10:30 when they make their recommendations public.
An inquest is required by law any time there is a mining death. Deputy Chief Coroner Dr. Reuven Jhirad said its purpose is to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and to show the public that "no death is overlooked."
Read the recommendations given to the coroner's jury