[Summary translation prepared by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

Violation of technological process identified as cause of April collapse at Severopeschanskaya mine, 8 October 2024

The Ural Department of Rostekhnadzor has established the causes of the accident at Severopeschanskaya iron ore mine (JSC Bogoslovskoye Rudoupravleniye, Sverdlovsk Region), where one person died.

As the technical investigation revealed, the technological process was violated during mining operations. Specifically, explosives were obtained from a third party and stored in an unauthorized location. Additionally, an individual who was not authorized to conduct blasting operations was allowed into a restricted area.

"A decision has been made to hold the responsible individuals administratively accountable under Part 3 of Article 9.1 of the Administrative Offenses Code (gross violation of industrial safety requirements or gross violation of the conditions of the license to conduct activities in the field of industrial safety of hazardous production facilities - IPF)," the press release states.

In the evening of April 1, a rock burst occurred at Severopeschanskaya iron ore mine in Krasnoturyinsk. One worker was killed, two sustained moderate injuries, one sustained light injuries, and one did not require hospitalization.

A criminal case was initiated under Article 217 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of industrial safety requirements for hazardous production facilities). The prosecutor's office organized an inspection of safety compliance during mining operations and labor protection legislation.

A week after the incident, judicial officers suspended the mine's operations for 90 days due to violations of industrial safety requirements. The mine resumed work after the violations were rectified.