Two other cases in Nova Scotia point to the riskiness of metallic mine projects. Exxon's Esso Minerals opened the Gay Mills lead-zinc mine in 1979, but closed it after only two years due to shaft flooding, and many workers were laid off. Though the mine was projected to run for 17 years, production halted after only five years when tin prices fell dramatically. A 1990 mineworkers strike, largely based on working conditions, was declared illegal by the Colombian government. Even if a worker has a secure job with Exxon or Rio Algom, it is not clear to us that the employee's health and safety has been held in high regard.
Workers lose arms, legs, fingers, their lives.
They breathe coal dust and have nose problems, allergies, lung problems, silicosis. We don't know the reason. The worker is normally working, suddenly he becomes paralyzed and in a few days he dies. This happens only in the Exxon mine. I have asthma and chronic bronchitis.