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April 12 2001 - Members of United Steelworkers from Northern Ontario have lobbied Minister of Labour Chris Stockwell in an effort to get action to reduce the occupational disease epidemic affecting miners.

Statistics show that incidences of silicosis - a lung disease caused by silica dust - have resurged in Ontario over the last 10 years. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) reported 111 allowed silicosis claims as of January 2001 - with another 19 claims pending. Twelve of the claims have been established from miners working at Hemlo Mines (Golden Giant Mine, David Bell Mine and Williams Mine) in Northern Ontario, and many more cases may yet be diagnosed.

"In our meeting with the Minister of Labour, we demanded immediate improvements from government," said Steelworkers' Ontario/Atlantic Health and Safety Coordinator Nancy Hutchison. "Simply reinstating past procedures may vastly improve the current situation. We have asked for the restoration of the mining master file, which is a tracking system that allows miners to establish occupational work histories and exposures. We need enforcement of work orders issued by Ministry of Labour inspectors. There must be safeguards and work accommodations available, with no loss of earnings, for miners diagnosed with silicosis. Possible new sources of silica exposure as a result of new mining methods must be investigated. Finally, we are asking the Ministry to provide competent chest x-rays and respiratory testing immediately.

"Since the mid-90's, we have witnessed the dismantling of a system that was designed to protect mining industry workers," said Hutchison. "The Ministry must resume responsibility for chest x-rays and respiratory testing, and create an indisputable exposure paper trail for each and every miner working in Ontario."

The union has launched a survey on respiratory disease at the three Hemlo mines for staff people, miners and contractors.

"We want to see the true extent of the problem," said Hutchison. "The Minister has committed to respond to our concerns and recommendations. A tripartite meeting will be set up with the Steelworkers, the Ministry of Labour and the WSIB to address the occupational disease issues we raised today."

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