Family and friends of 26 men killed in the Westray mine disaster 10 years ago say politicians must remember the dead by placing more responsibility for workplace safety on corporations. And a Parliamentary committee is considering doing just that.

On May 9, 1992, an explosion rumbled through the Westray mine at 5:18 a.m., trapping 26 men underground and shaking homes more than a kilometre away. Investigators said that a mixture of methane gas and coal dust ignited, causing the blast.

Westray Mine
Westray Mine

On Thursday, the names of the 26 who died were read out in front of the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill.

The Justice Committee of the House of Commons is considering recommendations to the Criminal Code that would hold corporations and their executives more responsible for workplace safety.

'A disgrace and a tragedy'

Alexa McDonough
Alexa McDonough

The leader of the New Democrats said it was long overdue. Alexa McDonough noted that the report on the Westray disaster made dozens of recommendations, including amendments to the Criminal Code but nothing happened.

"It's a disgrace and a tragedy that 10 years from the date of the Westray disaster, we do not have the changes in the Criminal Code that have been recommended," she said.

Two mine managers were charged with criminal negligence causing death and manslaughter. The trials collapsed over legal wrangling and technicalities.

Westray Memorial
Westray Memorial

The public inquiry called the disaster preventable and predictable.

Not much improvement, says lawyer

Ten years later, the man who acted as lead lawyer for the inquiry says not much has changed. John Merrick warns that potential disasters are brewing on industrial sites across the country.

He says people continue to make the same mistakes that were made at Westray.

"Taking things on that they can't handle, being afraid, too proud to acknowledge that you don't know what you are doing in the circumstances, being afraid to acknowledge to your superiors that this is above your skill level, or just being careless," said Merrick.

But the people touched by Westray continue to hope that it will lead to changes in the law to prevent another disaster.

Families and labour leaders will lead an evening march to a memorial built over the final resting place of the men still in the mine.

Alan Martin, who lost his brother Glen in the explosion, said even though he feels it's futile to continue the hunt for justice, he can't let it go. "I feel very disappointed, I feel very let down."

Westray miner Sean Comish worked on the rescue team. He says parliamentary discussions aimed at making corporate executives more responsible for safety have been slow to develop.

"I just wonder how many people lost their lives because they didn't move on this thing quicker," said Comish.