Demolition of gold mine halted while accident investigation progresses.
Demolition and cleanup work at the former Colomac gold mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories has been suspended while federal officials investigate an accident that happened at the decommissioned mine site late last month.
A foreman suffered leg injuries when a 2½-centimetre steel cable snapped during efforts to pull down a secondary crusher building at the mine site, located about 220 kilometeres northwest of Yellowknife.
Work at the site has been suspended to ensure that the contractor, Aboriginal Engineering Ltd., has met accepted safety standards for its demolition plans, said Annette Hopkins, the federal Indian and Northern Affairs Department’s associate regional director general in Yellowknife.
Hopkins said the demolition will not resume until the Human Resources and Skills Development Department, which is leading the investigation, gives its approval.
“The initial investigation has been completed. Once Human Resources [and] Skills Development Canada has reviewed that material, they will come back to the three parties with regard to their comments and recommendations,” Hopkins told CBC News on Thursday.
“The demolition work will not recommence until we have received HRSDC’s recommendations with regard to any changes that might be required to recommence those operations.”
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