What happened at Westray mine?
The disaster. On Saturday, May 9, 1992, methane gas and subsequent coal dust explosions at 5:18 a.m. ADT killed 26 miners. It was Canada’s worst mining disaster since 1958, when a bump at another Nova Scotia coal mine in Springhill claimed the lives of 75 miners.
Why did Westray mine explode?
The Westray Public Inquiry under Justice Peter K. Richard found the likely cause of the explosion was a spark from a coal-cutting machine hitting stone. This ignited a build-up of methane near the roof.
How many people died in the Westray mine disaster?
26 miners
‘There are still things that haunt us,’ priest says of Westray mine disaster. The underground explosion 30 years ago in Plymouth, N.S., killed 26 miners. A spark from a coal-cutting machine ignited a methane gas leak in the mine shaft that had mixed with coal dust to cause the explosion.
What happened in the Scofield mine disaster?
The Scofield mine disaster occurred on 1 May 1900 when an explosion ripped through the Winter Quarters Number Four mine located west of Scofield. Men working in the mine were killed outright by the explosion, which occurred when an excessive amount of coal dust ignited inside the mine.
Who was at fault for the Westray disaster?
The RCMP announced charges of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death against Curragh Resources Inc., and former mine managers Gerald Phillips and Roger Parry. The more than 100 people in attendance — many families of the 26 miners killed — responded with a standing ovation.
What is the Westray Bill?
The Westray bill or Bill C-45 was federal legislation that amended the Canadian Criminal Code and became law on March 31, 2004. 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.
Why did Westray happen?
A black cloud roared from the mine portal – a massive coal dust blast, triggered by a methane explosion. By 6:40 a.m. a Westray draeger team was heading down the mine on foot. They were soon joined by brother rescuers from Cape Breton, Pugwash and Bathurst mines.
What is the Milford Mine disaster?
On Feb. 5, 1924, boggy water from Foley Lake flooded the Milford Mine about two miles north of Crosby, killing 41 miners in Minnesota’s worst mining disaster. Only seven miners were able to climb to safety. First sunk in 1917, by 1924 the main shaft of the manganese mine was 200 feet deep.
Did anyone survive the Westray Mine disaster?
The rescue teams recovered 15 bodies. Finally, on 15 May, six days after the explosion, with no hope of finding anyone alive, search efforts were called off. The bodies of 11 miners were never found.
What does Bill C-45 mean for First Nations?
The passing of Bill C-45 for First Nations people eliminates treaty rights. It will allow First Nations to lease out/surrender reserve lands based on votes taken at a single meeting, rather than a majority vote from an entire First Nation (community consent).
Did Bill C-45 get passed?
Please note, the Bill was passed with no changes and came into force on March 31, 2004. Please refer to the Justice Laws Web Site for an up-to-date version of the Criminal Code.
What caused the Sunshine Mine Fire?
The cause of the fire was thought to be the spontaneous combustion of some refuse near scrap timber, according to The Bureau of Mines. The Sunshine Mine disaster was the worst mining tragedy in the Idaho’s history. In front of you stands the impressive Sunshine Miners Memorial, erected by sculptor Ken Lonn.
What was the Westray Mine disaster?
WestrayA documentary about the Westray coal mine disaster that killed 26 men in Nova Scotia on May 9, 1992. Includes insightful accounts from widows of lost miners, surviving co-workers, and others. From the National Film Board of Canada.
How much did the Westray Mine Workers get paid?
The Westray miners not killed in the blast, 117 of them, were awarded severance pay for 12 weeks, which came to $1.2 million. Individual cheques to the miners ranged from $6,626 to $12,367.
What are the best books about the Westray Mine disaster?
Justice K. Peter Richard, The Westray Story: A Predictable Path to Disaster, report of the Westray Mine Public Inquiry. , Dean Jobb Calculated Risk: Greed, Politics and the Westray Tragedy. Shaun Comish, The Westray Tragedy: A Miner’s Story.
Where are the bodies of the Westray Mine Victims now?
Shortly after the tragedy, volunteers, tradespeople and family members built a memorial to the men who died, just outside an industrial park in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. The site sits above what was the North Main tunnel of the Westray mine, the final resting place for the 11 miners whose bodies were never recovered.