HEALTH AND SAFETY IN MINES : A CONSTANT PRIORITY FOR THE QUÉBEC MINING ASSOCIATION AND ITS MEMBERS
12/09/2017
Québec City, September 12, 2017 – The Québec Mining Association (QMA) is disappointed by the public pronouncement made by United Steelworkers, which raises doubts about workplace health and safety conditions in Québec's mines.
"Never, at any time, do mining companies place their workers at risk. Their health and safety take priority over everything else, and that must be made clear," says Josée Méthot, the QMA's president and CEO.
Thanks to the efforts made every day in the field of accident prevention, the health and safety record is improving constantly. "Health and safety is a responsibility for everyone working in mines, whatever their hierarchical level. For example, the commitment of workers and managers led to a 22% reduction in the accident rate in underground mines over the first six months of 2017, compared to the same period in 2016. Why are there fewer accidents? Because we remain vigilant and nothing takes priority over a safe working environment. It is untrue to claim the opposite," Ms. Méthot continues.
For the QMA, it is clear that the mining industry, like all sectors of activity, is not exempt from unfortunate incidents. "Yes, accidents happen in mines, despite all the actions taken by the mining industry. What must be done, and what we are already doing, is to ensure that risks are reduced to a minimum and that we work together to preserve the mining industry's enviable record in the field of workplace health and safety," Josée Méthot concludes.
About the Québec Mining Association
The Québec Mining Association (QMA) was founded in 1936 and speaks proactively for mining companies involved in exploration, extraction and processing, mining contractors and junior mining companies, along with suppliers, institutions, non-profit organizations and other mining sector partners. It is proud of the 45,550 jobs and total expenditure of almost $6 billion generated by Québec's mining industry. The QMA’s mission is to promote, support and proactively develop a responsible, committed and innovative mining industry in Québec.