Mount Milligan, a copper-gold mine currently under construction, is among 19 mining operations to receive an annual provincial mine safety award, announced Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett.

The mining operations were recognized for their accomplishments in mine safety at the 51st annual Mine Safety Awards banquet, which took place in Revelstoke over the past weekend. The ministry presents the awards annually to mines and quarries that have the lowest injury-frequency rate in the previous calendar year.

Mines under construction but not producing ore, such as Mount Milligan, have a unique set of risks due to the wide variety of activities and contract workers onsite. Despite this extra challenge, in 2012 Mount Milligan achieved the lowest injury-frequency rate for mines with over one million worker hours.

Mount Milligan is one of three new mines currently under construction in British Columbia as part of the B.C. government's Jobs Plan goal to open eight new mines and expand nine more by 2015.

See backgrounder for a full list of this year's recipients.

Quotes:

Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review -

"B.C.'s mining industry is experiencing unprecedented growth. With new operations and workers in the field, our government is working hard to protect mine workers through high safety standards and regular training and audits. These awards recognize those companies who have achieved the highest safety records."

Karina Briño, president and CEO, Mining Association of BC -

"It's the daily dedication of all the participants in the mining industry - the workers, the unions, the companies - that makes mining the safest heavy industry in B.C. I'd like to thank the ministry for acknowledging the outstanding achievements of today's recipients."

Quick Facts:

• There are currently nine coal mines in operation, 10 metal mines, more than 30 industrial minerals mines, and hundreds of aggregate pits and quarries.

• B.C. mines produced an estimated $8.3 billion worth of commodities in 2012 - nearly 18 per cent of the Canadian total.

• The Mine Safety Awards were established in 1961 by the B.C. government to recognize the safety record of mines in B.C.

• The Mine Safety Awards consist of three categories and seven different awards.

• Provincial health and safety inspectors are involved in all aspects of the mining cycle. In 2012 inspectors conducted a total of 1,159 mine visits.

• According to WorkSafeBC, in 2011 larger B.C. mines experienced an estimated injury rate of approximately 1.6 injury claims per 100 person years worked.

• All of the mining industry's injury rates are lower than forestry, food and beverage products, metal and non-metallic mineral products, general and heavy construction, warehousing and transportation.

Learn More:

Mine Safety Awards: http://www.empr.gov.bc.ca/MINING/HEALTHANDSAFETY/MINESAFETYAWARDS/Pages/default.aspx

Contact:

Jake Jacobs
Media Relations
Ministry of Energy and Mines
250 952-0628

BACKGROUNDER

The Ministry of Energy and Mines recognized the following companies for their exceptional safety records throughout the 2012 calendar year:

Certificate of Achievement - presented to operations with at least 15,000 worker hours and an injury frequency rate of zero.

Allard Contractors Ltd. - Mission Pit

Butler Brothers Supplies Ltd. - Duncan Aggregate

Butler Brothers Supplies Ltd. - Keating Pit

Certain Teed Gypsum Canada Inc - Windermere Mining Operation

Fraser Pacific Enterprises Inc. - Sumas Shale Quarry

Jack Cewe Ltd. - Treat Creek, Jervis Inlet Mine

Plateau Construction Ltd. - Harper Ranch Quarry

Stewart O'Brian Safety Award - presented to operations with 35,000-200,000 worker hours and the lowest injury-frequency rate.

Allard Contractors Ltd. - Pit D

AuRico Gold Inc. - Kemess Mine

Lafarge Canada Inc. - Central Aggregates

Lafarge Canada Inc. - Pitt River Quarries

Lafarge Canada Inc. - Earle Creek Aggregates

Lehigh Materials - Sechelt Mine

Summit Crushing - Ward Road Quarry

Edward Prior Award - presented to operations with 200,000-one million worker hours and the lowest injury-frequency rate.

Teck Coal Ltd. - Coal Mountain Operations

Teck Resources Ltd. - Quintette Mine

John Ash Award - presented to Thompson Creek Metals (Mount Milligan) for having at least one million worker hours and the lowest injury-frequency rate.

Large Underground Mines Award - presented to Nystar (Myra Falls) and the Quinsam Coal Corporation (Quinsam Coal Mine) for the underground mine that had the lowest injury frequency rate.

Contact:

Jake Jacobs
Media Relations
Ministry of Energy and Mines
250 952-0628