Mining company fined $100k for safety violations
Charges stem from apprentice mechanic's death in 2009
A mining company in Yukon has been fined more than $100,000 for workplace safety violations.
Procon Mining and Tunnelling pled guilty to two Occupational Safety charges in relation to the 2009 death of 20-year-old Paul Wentzell.
Wentzell, who was from Newfoundland and Labrador, was working for Procon as an apprentice mechanic.
He was killed by an un-occupied vehicle at the underground Wolverine mine.
Investigators found that the Toyota Land Cruiser he was operating had been parked on an incline, but its emergency brakes failed and the vehicle rolled back and struck him.
Judge John Faulkner said the company failed to make sure its equipment was in safe operating condition.
Faulkner added that Wentzell was not adequately trained to operate the vehicle.
But the judge said Procon had an excellent safety record prior to the accident, and has implemented safety measures since then.