Yellowknife, NT (December 6, 2022) – On December 5, 2022, Diavik Diamond Mines appeared in the Northwest Territories Territorial Court in Yellowknife, and entered a guilty plea to an offence under the Mine Health & Safety Act.
The mine pleaded guilty to a single count that it did “fail to take every reasonable measure and precaution to protect the health and safety of employees at the mine” contrary to the Mine Health and Safety Act.
Diavik was issued a fine in the amount of $150,000 to be paid to the Workers’ Protection Fund, plus a 15% Victim Fine Surcharge.
The charge stems from an incident that occurred on the afternoon of November 16, 2020 in which a worker was seriously injured by falling rock while operating heaving equipment at the Diavik mine site, at Lac de Gras, Northwest Territories.
On November 10, 2021, following an investigation, the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) originally laid nine charges against Diavik Diamond Mines, a shift supervisor, the mine manager, and a blast supervisor. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the remaining eight charges were withdrawn.
Sarah McLeod
Manager, Communications
T: (867) 920-3854