THUNDER BAY – One person is dead after an incident at the Lac des Iles Mine Thursday afternoon.
A statement issued by North American Palladium Ltd. confirms a fatality occurred around 2 p.m. at the site about 90 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay.
OPP confirmed on Friday the victim was a 38-year-old man, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. According to police, the victim was moving rocks with a load-haul machine, working about 825 feet below the surface. Mine rescue squads responded, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The OPP and the Ontario Ministry of Labour are investigating as well as both the company and the union.
Ministry of Labour spokesperson William Lin said the incident occurred underground and confirmed four orders have been issued.
There are two stop work orders, one each for the location and the equipment involved in the incident. In addition, an order was issued to examine the grounds for dangers and hazards as well as an order to establish procedures to ensure operators and other workers are in safe locations when equipment is used or moved.
