Detour Gold has been charged with criminal negligence causing death under the Criminal Code of Canada, following the death of an employee at its Detour Lake gold mine last summer.
On June 3, 2015, millwright Denis Millette, 52, was making a repair to equipment at the mine that day when he was observed to be in “medical distress.” On-site medical staff attended to him, but Millette later died.
As is required following any workplace death, the Ministry of Labour investigated at the time of the incident. The OPP opened a criminal investigation last September.
“We have and will continue to co-operate fully with both the Ontario Provincial Police and Ministry of Labour throughout their investigations and are taking these charges very seriously," president and CEO Paul Martin said in a release.
“We now need to obtain the information on which the charges have been brought in order to be in a position to comment further. In the meantime, we would like to express our sincere condolences to the family.”
The Ministry of Labour has until June to conclude its investigation. Additional charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act could still be pending.
The Detour Lake gold mine is located 185 kilometres northeast of Cochrane.
On Sept. 18, 2015, the mine poured its one millionth ounce of gold, approximately 30 months after pouring its first gold bar on February 18, 2013.
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