By Brent Bosker

Updated: Uranium firm suspends operations following worker death

Feb 23, 2011 | 11:24 AM

Can-Alaska Uranium is saying safety regulations were followed prior to a workers’ death Monday morning.

The man, 54, was operating a bulldozer on Cree Lake when it fell through the ice and into 18 meters of icy water. The body was recovered and brought to Prince Albert for an autopsy.

“We don’t know why that occurred because we had already done ice measurements,” said Emile Fung, vice-president of operations.

The ice was deemed safe, he said.

“Obviously you can’t cover every inch of that ice and as people know in the north there can be cracks that can occur. For some reason it was just weak at the point where he was operating.”

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The worker, contracted by Can-Alaska was clearing the ice in preparation for drilling at the company’s Cree East project in the Athabasca basin.

Can-Alaska has been doing exploration in the area for five years without a problem, Fung said.

“It’s just one of those freaks of nature I guess.”

The company has suspended operations at the mine site until further notice. They are in the process of evacuating the camp of 16 workers, so they can be with their families.

“We’re trying to take care of the people first obviously it’s a shock to everyone,” Fund said.

RCMP along with the coroner's office and Occupational Health and Safety are investigating.

The Can-Alaska Uranium Mine Site is located approximately 600 kilometers northeast of Buffalo Narrows.

bbosker@panow.com