You can search by the scc 5digit case number, by name or word in the style of cause, or by file number from the appeal court. A mining disaster is defined as an incident with 5 or more fatalities. The mine had only been operating for eight months when the explosion occurred. In the predawn darkness on may 9, 1992, 26 miners were killed in the westray coal mine when a deadly combination of methane gas and coal dust ignited, sending a huge fireball through the tunnels. The westray mine in pictou county, nova scotia, exploded on may 9, 1992, killing the 26 miners who were trapped underground. Corporations are advised to have a crisis communication plan to facilitate proactive behaviour. Technological crises are predictable and inevitable, particularly in a highrisk industry such as mining.
The westray coal mine explodes, killing the 26 miners working. Mar 27, 2018 westray mine explosion media analysis on march 27, 2018 march 29, 2018 by mriordon in analysis on may 9 th, 1992 in plymouth, nova scotia, canada, the westray coal mine had an explosion that killed 26 miners whom were working at the time, making it one of canadas deadliest mining disasters of the time. The fifth estate and the journal coproduced this story about the tragedy. Cooke 9 described a system dynamics analysis of the 1992 westray mine disaster in nova scotia, canada, in which the causal structure of the westray system, including relationships that could. The bill introduced in 2003 established new legal duties for workplace health and safety, and imposed serious penalties for violations that result in injuries or death. Ceremony in nova scotia marks westray mine disaster. Sisters and brothers, on may 9, 1992, an explosion at the westray mine in pictou county, nova scotia killed 26 miners working underground. Ceremony marks 25th anniversary of westray mine disaster in. This paper analyzes the relationship between curragh and the media.
A predictable path to disaster report of the westray mine public inquiry, 1997. This article describes a system dynamics analysis of the1992 westray mine disaster in nova scotia, canada. The westray death toll was canadas worst mining disaster since the. For instance, when westray mine manager gerald phillips was asked about the risk of methane explosions prior to the opening of the mine, he said that the history of deaths in the pictou coal fields. Corporations now criminally responsible for safety warnings ignored by junior staff. An examination of the interaction between the mine owner and the media. The westray bill or bill c45 was federal legislation that amended the canadian criminal code and became law on march 31, 2004. In the early morning of 9 may 1992 a violent explosion rocked the tiny community of plymouth, just east of stellarton, in pictou county, nova scotia. The charges were stayed after a lengthy criminal trial. Although it is impossible to quantify the contribution of such a major diversion to the disaster, it was likely significant. Expert testimony at the westray inquiry has pinpointed the likely cause of the fatal explosion. Mar 29, 2018 the westray mine that exploded in plymouth, nova scotia, on may 9, 1992, killed 26 miners.
The mine had an underground methane explosion and the media covered this event which lead to emergency services being involved whom tried to find. Published on the authority of the lieutenant governor in council by the westray mine. A 1992 canadian medal of bravery for the westray mine disaster g. The westray coal mine explodes, killing the 26 miners working underground. Information for historical mine disasters was obtained from the following publications. January 12, 1918 the minnie pit disaster in staffordshire, united kingdom was a coal mining accident in which 155 men and boys died 144 from carbon monoxide poisoning and 11 from violence, plus carbon monoxide poisoning. This page contains a form to search the supreme court of canada case information database. Top court dismisses westray families suit the globe and mail. Westray was owned and operated by curragh resources incorporated curragh inc.
Graphs are provided from 1900 through the last complete calendar year. Their light will always shine twentysix miners were killed in the westray coal mining disaster on may 9, 1992. Table of recorded coalmining explosion fatalities pictou county. Personal stories are brought to the screen in an innovative and dramatic style. Occupational health and safety laws did not prevent the tragedy, or punish the guilty. Criminal liability for workplace deaths and injuries. The pictou coalfield had been mined for some 200 years, and elements of the disaster rest in the nature of that coalfield with its thick and gassy seams. Questions and answers about bill c45 the westray bill. The westray mine in nova scotia, canada, suffered a methane gas and coal dust. After the disaster, the premier of nova scotia called a public inquiry. Coal mining is considered much more hazardous than hard rock mining due to flatlying rock strata, generally incompetent rock, the.
The westray victims 25th anniversary westray mining. A system dynamics analysis of the westray mine disaster. The westray mine disaster and its aftermathtucker the former underground manager, were charged with manslaughter and criminal negligence. As a result, many still refer to it as the westray bill. The mine opened in september 1991, but closed eight months later. A mining accident is an accident that occurs during the process of mining minerals or metals. On 15 may 1992, i was appointed by order in council to inquire into and report on this disaster. After much wrangling, an indictment was preferred, thus. A 1992 canadian medal of bravery for the westray mine disaster.
The day the westray mine blew kill a worker, go to jail on may 9, 1992, at 5. Prior to the explosion, several safety concerns had been raised by employees, union officials and government inspectors. An aerial view of the entrance to the westray mine is shown in this may 11, 1992 photo. The westray victims 25th anniversary westray mining disaster. It was one of the deadliest mining disasters in canadian history and led to new criminal code provisions known as the westray law that made it possible to prosecute corporate criminal negligence. In the early morning of may 9, 1992, an explosion caused by a fatal buildup of methane gas and coal dust at the westray mine in pictou county, nova scotia killed all 26 miners working underground.
Nov 29, 2016 the day the westray mine blew kill a worker, go to jail on may 9, 1992, at 5. The westray story a predictable path to disaster report of the westray mine public inquiry, november, 1997, province of nova scotia. Cooke 9 described a system dynamics analysis of the 1992 westray mine disaster in nova scotia, canada, in which the causal structure of the westray system, including relationships that. The westray mine that exploded in plymouth, nova scotia, on may 9, 1992, killed 26 miners. Family and friends are shown in 2002 marking the 10th anniversary of the westray mine disaster. It examines the causal structure of the westray system, including relationships that could have led to conditions that caused the fatal explosion at the mine.
December 6, 1907 worst coal mine disaster in us history. As one of canadas deadliest mining disasters, what lessons can we take away. The foord seam, which westray was mining, has hosted at least eight mines. New safety law inspired by westray mine disaster new law inspired by westray mine tragedy takes effect. Bill c45 was created as a result of a 1992 coal mining disaster in nova scotia when 26 underground miners at the westray mine were killed after methane gas ignited and caused an explosion. Author administrator posted on april 4, 2015 april 4, 2015 categories economy, politics, social issues tags rob in nova scotia, westray coal mine disaster 3 comments on running to the light westray mine disaster the last shift.
Ceremony marks 25th anniversary of westray mine disaster. Report of the westray mine public inquiry justice k. Relatives of a miner killed in the westray mine disaster watch as workers install a memorial to the lost men in new glasgow, n. On may 9, 1992, 26 miners lost their lives in the westray mine located in pictou county, nova scotia, when a buildup of methane gas and coal dust ignited and caused an explosion.
Bureau of mines bulletin 509, injury experience in coal mining, 1948 bureau of mines bulletin 616, historical documentation of major coalmine disasters in the united states not classified as explosions of gas or dust. Worker safety still at risk 25 years after westray tragedy. A public inquiry blamed mine management, bureaucrats and politicians for a tragedy that should have been prevented. Thirtysixyearold adonis dollimont and 25 other miners were in the final hours of a fourday shift at the westray mine in plymouth, n.
Glen matheson recognition and naming of the victims of westray, hugh macarthur. Oct 31, 2014 on may 9th 1992 an explosion ripped apart the westray coal mine in pictou county, nova scotia killing 26 miners. This kind of neutral expertise serves players and governments very well when making plans and, even more so, when confronted with disaster. On may 9th 1992 an explosion ripped apart the westray coal mine in pictou county, nova scotia killing 26 miners. For a decade, eleanor lilley has waited for the nova scotia government to accept some of the blame for the westray mine explosion that. The bill introduced in 2003 established new legal duties for workplace health and safety, and imposed serious penalties for violations that result in. In the predawn darkness on may 9, 1992, 26 miners were killed in the westray coal mine when a deadly combination of methane gas and coal dust ignited, sending a.
An explosion on 9 may 1992, deep inside the westray mine in plymouth, nova scotia killed 26 underground miners. Peter richard, who led the public inquiry into the disaster, uncovered a complex mosaic of actions, omissions. In this feature documentary, filmmaker paul cowan offers an innovative, moving account of the westray coal mine disaster that killed 26 men in nova scotia on may 9, 1992. May 06, 2012 an aerial view of the entrance to the westray mine is shown in this may 11, 1992 photo. Data table of 726 mining disasters incidents with 5 or more fatalities. Jul, 20 december 6, 1907 worst coal mine disaster in us history. Westray was the only operating underground coal mine in pictou county at the time of the explosion. Curragh resources went bankrupt in 1993, partially due to the disaster.
The westray mine is located at plymouth, near stellarton, in pictou county, nova scotia. The disaster was fraught with poor government oversight and lax safety standards that affected many lives and businesses involved. The westray mine disaster provides for an analysis of governmental crime and corporate violence in the negligent actions of the nova scotia department of labour, which is a department of the provincial government, and curragh resources inc. The westray coal mine, owned by curragh incorporated of toronto and located in pictou county, nova scotia, exploded on may 9, 1992, killing the 26 miners who were underground. Twentysix miners lost their lives when the westray, nova scotia coal mine blew up in 1992. Diversion of attention the entire ground control situation at the westray mine is singularly significant in that it typifies the lack of planning, of competence, and of responsibility of senior westray management. On may 9 th, 1992 in plymouth, nova scotia, canada, the westray coal mine had an explosion that killed 26 miners whom were working at the time, making it one of canadas deadliest mining disasters of the time. Westray miners memorial park the westray coal mine exploded on 9 may 1992. Westray is a moving account of the westray coal mine disaster, which killed 26 men in nova scotia on may 9, 1992.
Wes tray was owned and operated by curragh resources incorporated curragh inc. Photographs of the westray miners memorial park in new glasgow. United steelworkers of america, national directors update. Westray mine disaster the last shift the fifth estate. These charges were dismissed as inadequate and, subsequently, successfully relaid. Background the underground coal mine safety research collaboration ucmsrc is an adhoc. The interaction between the mine owner and the media, and how the behaviour of each affected the families of the trapped miners in the days after the explosion, form the basis of this study of relationships between. The westray mine was a coal mine in plymouth, nova scotia, canada. Many of the miners bodies remain buried there to this day. Following the explosion there were 52 regulation violations brought forward, but were dropped in favour of criminal charges against the two mine managers, including manslaughter and criminal negligence. The explosion occurred in the depths of the westray coal mine, instantly killing the 26 miners working there at the time. Aug 16, 2002 for a decade, eleanor lilley has waited for the nova scotia government to accept some of the blame for the westray mine explosion that killed her husband, stephen, and 25 other miners. New safety law inspired by westray mine disaster cbc news. The public inquiry that followed the disaster laid blame for the disaster.
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