(IDEX Online News) – De Beers Victor Mine in Ontario was recently the recipient of the John T. Ryan Award for 2015, Canada’s most prestigious award for mine safety.

The award in the Select Mines category was presented at the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Awards in Vancouver, and was in recognition of Victor Mine’s outstanding 2015 safety record. The mine reported zero lost time incidents (LTIs) and recorded the lowest overall reportable injury rate among all mines in Ontario.

Victor Mine general manager James Kirby, who accepted the award on behalf of his team, said that the importance of safety was imbedded into the culture and that contract partners as well as De Beers employees lived up to the commitment.

“I am extremely proud of the Victor Mine team, who consistently demonstrate safety leadership for not only De Beers in Canada, but for De Beers and Anglo American around the world,” said De Beers CEO, Canada, Kim Truter. “This prestigious award is a testament to their on-going commitment to mining diamonds safely and without harm to people or the environment.”

The J.T. Ryan Awards have been presented annually since 1941, and this is the second time that the Victor Mine has won an award, having been named International Mine of the Year in 2009, by readers of Mining Magazine.