Gateway Stop Work Order Lifted

The Department of Environment and Labour has lifted the stop work order against Gateway Materials Limited, today, Oct. 17.

The stop work order was issued on Aug. 14, after a blast at the Kearney Lake quarry resulted in rocks being thrown over Highway 102 and into several apartments on the far side of highway.

"The stop work order has been lifted at the quarry as both Gateway Materials and Dyno Nobel, the company contracted to do blasting at the site, have complied with orders to develop a code of practice for blasting for the site," said Jim LeBlanc, director of the occupational health and safety division, Department of Environment and Labour. "These codes of practice will standardize blasting practices and introduce a more thorough internal review and accountability for each blast."

The code of practice for both companies includes improved communications, redesign of the blasting practices, increased level of site supervision, training and the implementation of a quality control and quality assurance program. The environmental approval for the site has also been amended to be consistent with the code of practice.

Although blasting may resume, the department's investigation file for the August incident has not been closed.