Miners didn't make errors before 2014 Lockerby Mine accident in Sudbury, says Ministry engineer

Mike Kat, a Ministry of Labour engineer, took the stand today in Sudbury in the trial against First Nickel and Taurus Drilling Services, two companies charged with 13 offences under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Three years ago this month, 49-year-old Norm Bisaillon and 34-year-old Marc Methe were killed while workingin First Nickel's Lockerby mine. They were both contractors for Taurus Drilling.

In a release following their deaths, First Nickeldescribed the cause of the accident as afall of material, preceded by seismicactivity.Taurus Drilling was purchased by Major Drilling International in 2014 and is now a numbered company, 1370918AULC.

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But in his testimony, Kat told David McCaskill, the lawyer representing the Ministry, thatthere were many problems leading up to the death of the two miners.

Kat outlined three key drivers in his report about the accident: the width of the opening, excess blast vibrations and a moist environment.

He also talked about excessive blasting causing cracks and said there may have been the possibility of defective explosives.

Mine has known history of stress

Kat saidthat the Lockerby Mine has a known history of stress, especially at depth where Bisaillon and Methewere working.

When asked if this tragedy could have been prevented, Kat said there were a number of opportunities to stop and take a look at what was happening.

In another instance he told the court that he felt that thetwo miners didn't make any errors before the accident.

First Nickel is not represented in court. The company went into receivership in 2015 and is not offering up a defense.

• First Nickel going into receivership: Sudbury mine hangs in balance
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In cross examination, John Illingsworth, thelawyerrepresentingTaurus Drilling, questioned some of the work done by another contractor who had developed the area prior to the production work.

These miners' deaths camea month to the day after another mining fatality in Sudbury. Paul Rochette, 36, died in an incident at Vale's Copper Cliff smelter on April 6, 2014. His colleague suffered serious injuries.

In 2015, an explosion at First Nickel mine injured four people.

• Explosion at Sudbury's First Nickel injures workers

The case will resume July 19.