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As you are all aware the Coroner’s Inquest into the tragic deaths of two of our Paramedics last year in Kimberley was held during the week of July 9 – 13, 2007. Brother Shawn Currier and Sister Kim Weitzel were killed in the line of duty along with Sullivan Mine workers Doug Erickson and Bob Newcombe on May 17, 2006.

Below are the recommendations from the jury and over the weekend a detailed report of the inquest and events surrounding the inquest will be prepared.

All CUPE 873 members need to become familiar with these recommendations as the next step in the process is to lobby to have these vital, life saving recommendations implemented. It will come as no surprise to many of you that it was very clear through the testimony given and the statements given to the media over the past week that BCAS has no money identified for improved Paramedic safety training, improved safety measures, or safety equipment in any upcoming budgets. The Ambulance Paramedics of BC find this to be appalling and will begin to bring these recommendations forward to the public and policy makers within the next week. It is also worthwhile to note that no BCAS representatives (other than the BCAS lawyer) were present when the recommendations were made.

I feel it is important to recognize the tireless efforts of Sister Bronwyn Barter (PVP), Brother Rick Loucks (Prov. Safety), and Sister Carmela Allevato  (CUPE Lawyer). These members worked day and night, not only during the inquest, but also the weeks leading to the inquest.

Recommendations of the jury:

 To BCAS

1. to follow question #3 on the EMD protocol with the further question “is the victim inside or outside a building?” this could lead to card #22 Confined Spaces. This could then be expanded as to what type of building.
2. Dispatch should have access to a mine rescure telephone number 24 hrs/day similar to CANUTEC for advise on rescue protocol regarding abandoned mine sites.
3. Install sound proofing/deadening materials on the walls and ceiling to cut down on ambient noise in the dispatch center.
4. Enforce that communication center dispatchers take entitled breaks away from their work stations.
5. Issue one oxygen sensor per ambulance mandatory to be worn by the senior person at all times while on shift. Appropriate training along with the issue of the sensor be provided.
6. Make it manitory for all BCAS staff to review the Worksafe BC website and take the confined space course annually and have the supervisor record and track their progress.
7. The Kimberley station assign a full time unit chief to ensure training and compliance are maintained to a high standard.
8. BCAS designate a contact for the families of the deceased to provide periodic updates on the progress and state of the implementations.

To Teck Cominco

1. Take responsibility for safety training of all contractors on their sites.
2. Continue to support the technical panel in the work to develop a complete  understanding of information related to mining waste dump respiration to assist in preventing future incidents of this nature.

To Ministry of Mines, Energy and Petroleum Resources

1. Amend the Mines Act regulations to meet or exceed the WCB standards with regards to confined space provisions in the OH&S regulations
2. Review the effectiveness of the Ministry’s enforcement strategy establish a minimum number of site visits per mine per year and increase the penalty provisions with enforcement of the Mines Act to reflect the seriousness of non-compliance.
3. All BC mines must identify with signage all of the confined spaces on their respective mine sites within the next six months.
4. Have all decommissioned mines in BC contact local fire/rescue and notify of hazards.
5. The review committee incorporated the Chief Inspector of Mines directives of May 26, 2006 within the mining code.
6. The recommendations addressed to the Ministry of Mines, Energey, and Resources in its Sullivan Mine accident report be implemented as soon as possible with follow-up with the reports recommendations as they apply to emergency responders as the mining industry.

In Solidarity,

BJ Chute
Director - Public Education
Ambulance Paramedics of BC