A jury looking into the death of Edwin James Davis is calling for strict new rules on ice road construction.
The jury submitted its recommendations at a coronor’s inquest in Dryden Court yesterday.
Davis is the 74-year-old Fort Frances man who died on Manitou Lake while building an ice road for Manitou Gold two years ago.
Ministry of Labour Lawyer David McCaskill says ice road safety is starting to become a major issue.
McCaskill says this is the third coronor’s inquest in five years but notes this is the most complete one on the issue so far.
McCaskill calls the recommendations “excellent” and hopes the government takes them seriously.
One of the key recommendations is having all machines regardless of age, be required to have safety equipment and updated features.
The groomer Davis was using didn’t have an escape hatch.
Another one includes having mining companies notify the Ministry of Labour prior to starting construction of an ice road.
A third recommendation is having all mining operations in the province develop and provide more training programs for ice safety.
A fourth is better cooperation between government agencies on ice safety and regulations.
McCaskill admits it’s an issue that’s been addressed for the first time in this type of inquiry but notes it is something that is needed.
Jury Recommendations
To the Ministry of Labour and Occupational Health and Safety Division
1. To have the Ministry of Labour adopt the First Nations Guidelines for the Construction and Maintenance of Existing Winter Roads until recommendation number 4 is completed.
2. That any person or company intending to construct an ice road be required to submit to the Ministry of Labour a “Notice of Intent to Construct an Ice Road” irrespective of any cost.
3. That upon receiving a “Notice of Intent to Construct an Ice Road” the Ministry of Labour will inquire into the circumstances of the proposed construction and, ensure that information and instruction regarding the safe construction of an ice road is provided.
4. That the Ministry of Labour undertake an inter-jurisdictional analysis of various other jurisdictions’ policies, guideline and regulations so as to best be able to create policies, guidelines and regulations to assist safe construction of ice roads and work methods on ice.
To the Ministry of Northern Development and the Ministry of Labour
5. When a “Notice of the Operation of a Test Drill” is completed and Section A filled out to construct an ice road the Ministry of Labour should be notified. It should then require a mandatory “Notice of Intent to Construct an Ice Road” and be completed prior to the construction of an ice road.
6. All machines regardless of the age, be required to have safety equipment and updated features. Examples: escape hatches, tether cords etc…
7. For all mining operations to provide and develop more training programs for ice safety.
8. The use of a power auger and a tape measure to collect an approximate depth, measurement of the ice. Also once the depth is established (an example: 20 inches) another hole be drilled approximately 2 feet away, approximately halfway down before hitting water for a visual inspection of the ice quality. This is called a dry run.
