Underground Mining Regulations Responds to Changing Needs

Revised occupational health and safety regulations taking effect today, Aug. 1, provide clear, targeted, and practical requirements for safe working conditions in underground mines.

The revisions update standards, recognize changing technology, and significantly reduce red tape for non-coal underground mines. For example, the number of documents that must be submitted to regulators for non-coal underground mining operations has been reduced from 32 to 15. These improvements align with the province's Better Regulation Initiative.

"We have delivered on our commitment to employees and employers in the mining industry," said Mark Parent, Minister of Labour and Workforce Development. "We consulted with them and made these latest changes based on their recommendations."

"The new regulations around coal mining bring us in line with the rest of the world and allow us to co-operate in future regulatory review," said Steve Farrell of the Mining Association of Nova Scotia's Underground Regulations committee. "The strict training requirements will allow the industry to have a more informed, sophisticated workforce."

The regulations were also revised to supply a regulatory framework for undersea mines, such as the proposed Donkin Coal Block Resource Project.

"I am pleased to say that through co-operative efforts with our federal peers we've succeeded in removing jurisdictional barriers that were standing in the way of undersea mining projects in this province," said Mr. Parent.

Nova Scotia will be the sole Occupational Health and Safety regulator for such mines, administering the common laws of both jurisdictions.

The regulations may be viewed online at www.gov.ns.ca/just/regulations/regs/ohsmine.htm .