A tragic incident at the Nutrien potash mine in Rocanville, Saskatchewan, resulted in the death of a worker, according to an announcement by the United Steelworkers union (USW) on Sunday.
The mine, located about 250 kilometers east of Regina, has been temporarily shut down following the incident. The identity of the deceased worker has not been disclosed.
Derek Palmer, president of USW Local 7916, expressed the union’s grief, stating, “Our community is in mourning over this tragic incident at our mine site, and our thoughts go out to the family, friends, and our union family who are deeply impacted.”
The union emphasized its commitment to worker safety, noting that its Emergency Response Team (ERT) is collaborating with USW Local 7916, Nutrien, and local authorities to investigate the circumstances of the incident. Palmer added, “Our union will be working with Nutrien to assist workers both on and off the mine sites. The Surface OHC and Mines Branch investigation is still in progress. The union will not be commenting further on the fatality until the Mines Branch has completed its investigation.”
USW Local 7916, representing 650 members at the Nutrien Rocanville Potash mine, has suspended operations, which are expected to resume on Wednesday, May 22.
The United Steelworkers union, which represents 225,000 members across various economic sectors in Canada, is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean.