11 May 2010
Diavik receives national safety award
Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., operator of the Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada's remote Northwest Territories, is pleased to announce that our operating and construction workforce of over 1000 people has been awarded a national John T. Ryan safety trophy.
Diavik received the national trophy for its 2009 safety performance, a year in which our lost time injury and all incident frequency rates were our lowest since production commenced in 2003.
"I am extremely pleased that Diavik's workforce has been awarded our industry's most prestigious safety award," said Diavik President and Chief Operating Officer Kim Truter. "This major accomplishment is shared by everyone who works at Diavik and one in which we can all take great pride."
This latest recognition follows continued positive performance achieved during 2010 including 2 million hours without a lost time injury and 1 million hours without any recordable injury or medical treatment.
The 2009 John T. Ryan National Safety Trophy for Select Mines is Diavik's first national John T. Ryan trophy. As the select mines national trophy winner, we experienced the lowest 2009 lost time injury rate among mines in the select category. Previously, we were awarded three regional John T. Ryan safety trophies (2003, 2004, and 2007).
Administered by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, there are three national John T. Ryan trophies awarded annually. The Ryan program began in 1941 when Canada's mining industry provided metals and mineral for war supplies. In 1942, a second national trophy was established for coal mines while the select mines national trophy was established in 1970. Trophies are presented at the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum annual conference.
The Diavik Diamond Mine, winner of four John T. Ryan safety trophies (one national and three regional) is located 300 km. northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and is an unincorporated joint venture between Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. (60%) and Harry Winston Diamond Limited Partnership (40%). Both companies are headquartered in Yellowknife, Canada. DDMI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc of London, England, and Harry Winston Diamond Limited Partnership is controlled by Harry Winston Diamond Corporation of Toronto, Canada. DDMI is the operator of the mine. For further information contact Doug Ashbury, Acting Principal Adviser, Communications at Tel: (867) 669-6525, or visit www.diavik.ca.