Mine Safety Awards

The Mine Safety Awards were established in 1961 by the province to recognize the safety record of mines in this province. Each year, these awards honour mining operations for their safety accomplishments in the previous calendar year.

The Mine Safety Awards are held each year to honour the safest mining operations in B.C. Each year's winners gather the following spring to be presented their awards.

The following awards were handed out on February 27, 2018 at the 56th Annual Mine Safety Awards in Victoria.

Open Pit Mine and Quarry Awards

Certificate of Achievement

Certificates of Achievement were presented to the following operations, all of which had a minimum of 15,000 worker hours and an injury-frequency rate of zero:

  • Butler Brothers Supplies Ltd.
  • CertainTeed Gypsum Canada Inc. - Windermere Mining Operation
  • Imperial Limestone Co. Ltd.
  • Lafarge Canada Inc. - Abbotsford Gravel Sales
  • West Ridge Quarries Ltd.

Stewart/O'Brian Safety Award

This award was presented to the following operations, all of which logged between 35,000 and 200,000 worker hours and had the lowest injury-frequency rate:

  • Lafarge Canada Inc. - Central Aggregates
  • Lafarge Canada Inc. - Earle Creek
  • Lafarge Canada Inc. - Pitt River Quarries
  • Orca Sand & Gravel - Orca Sand & Gravel

Edward Prior Award

This award is presented to operations that logged between 200,000 and 1,000,000 worker hours and had the lowest injury-frequency rate:

  • Conuma Coal Resources Ltd. - Brule Mine

John Ash Award

This award is presented to operations that logged a minimum of 1,000,000 worker hours and had the lowest injury-frequency rate:

  • Teck Coal Ltd. – Greenhills Operations

Underground Mine Awards

Large Underground Mines Award

This award is presented to operations with more than 240,000 worker hours (one-third of which were underground) and that had the lowest injury-frequency rate during the calendar year:

  • New Gold Inc. – New Afton Mine

Special Commendations and Awards

Chief Inspector's Recognition Award

The Chief Inspector's Recognition Award is presented to mine sites and/or individuals that have accomplished outstanding achievements in or that have greatly advanced health and safety at mine sites. This award is based on merit and is intended to recognize safety efforts other than safety statistics. The recipients are recognized at the Provincial Mine Rescue & First Aid Competition.