Two men were sent to hospital on Friday after a piece of equipment caught fire at the Duck Pond Mine in central Newfoundland. The incident happened just after 11 a.m. A contracting company was operating an above ground exploratory drill just outside the Duck Pond Mine site when it somehow caught fire.
One man was brought to hospital in Grand Falls-Windsor and treated for burns and released the next day.
The second man received more severe burns and is being treated at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s.
An investigation into the incident is underway, said Bob Kelly, mine manager.
“Health and safety is foremost for us so we will investigate, just to understand so it won’t occur again. That’s our focus right now,” said Kelly. He added the company is taking precautions in light of the incident.
“We’ve shut down the other exploration drills pending the results of the investigation,” he said.
CABO Drilling, the contractor in question, was operating about one kilometre outside the Duck Pond Mine gate.
But while the accident happened outside the main mine facility it was still on company property.
“It’s out in the middle of an open bog essentially,” said Kelly.
cmaclean@thetelegram.com
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