Mining | Workplace Safety North

WSN is the provincial not-for-profit mining health and safety association. It provides occupational health and safety consulting, training, resources, statistics, and industrial hygiene support for Ontario’s mining industries, including gold, nickel, and other underground and surface mines.

Free mining health and safety resources includes guidelines, safety talks, posters, and more. Industry research on top risks and their root causes is listed below. View risk management webpage with information sheet and gap assessment tool. For more information, contact your local mining health and safety specialist.

Mining Health and Safety Risk Assessments and Root Cause Analyses

Mining underground - Top risk: Collisions or contact between mobile equipment and pedestrians

Mining poster: Top 10 Risks in Underground Mines 2023

Mining poster: Top 10 Causes of Collisions in Underground Mines

Mining - Risk Assessment Workshop Results for Underground Mining Sector 2023

Mining - Root Cause Analysis Workshop Results for Collisions in Underground Mines

Mining - Risk Assessment Workshop Results for Underground Mining Sector 2014871.42 KB

Detailed risk categories 2014307.75 KB

Connect with an Expert

Do you need help with your workplace health and safety journey or understanding how to meet and exceed legislated requirements?

WSN Mining Health and Safety Specialists and Mine Rescue Officers are located across Ontario to help you with your health and safety program. Sector-specific experts have in-depth knowledge of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and applicable legislation.

Sector-specific services include virtual and on-site consultations for legislative compliance, gap analysis, best practices, and specific problem-solving.

Find a Specialist

Auditing

WSN has a wide variety of audits and assessments for the mining industry. These include needs assessment, radon sampling, and on-site assistance with ground control, mobile equipment, and ventilation.

WSN Audits

Training

WSN has an extensive catalogue of sector-specific training courses designed and delivered by health and safety experts. WSN offers over 100 valuable training programs, including Supervisor Common Core, Working at Heights, and Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification Part 1, 2, and refresher.

Course Catalogue

Health and Safety Excellence program

The WSN Health and Safety Excellence program provides Ontario workplaces a clear roadmap on how to improve workplace health and safety. The Excellence program is a performance-based rebate program developed by the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Participants create safer workplaces and earn both financial and non-financial rewards.

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Mining Advisory Committee

WSN has a Mining advisory committee that meets four times a year to provide leadership and input to help influence future health and safety programs, products and services in support of sector needs.

WSN also has five Technical Advisory Committees: A Ground Control committee, a Mine Rescue committee, a Mining Equipment committee, a Safety and Loss Control committee, and a Workplace Environment committee. These committees meet four times a year to identify, evaluate and prioritize health and safety issues, to provide resources for the development and delivery of education materials, to provide advice on research projects and programs, and to make recommendations on the development of health and safety materials.