Employees removed following Brazil dam collapse

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FOLLOWING the fatal collapse of a Vale mine tailings dam the company has decided to remove several employees from office and forbid others from performing “dam safety monitoring and/or risk management activities”.

The dam collapse occurred in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil on 25 January. Since the collapse, 197 people have been confirmed dead and 111 remain missing.

The decision was prompted by the recommendation of a task force of attorneys, prosecutors, and federal and civil police. It included the removal of several Vale executives. On 2 March, the day after the recommendation was given, Vale CEO Fabio Schvartsman and three other executives requested temporary removal, which Vale’s Board of Directors  immediately granted.

Later that same day, the Board met and decided to accept the recommendation in its entirety. On 7 March the Executive Board formally agreed to the recommendation and proceeded to remove and relocate the other employees listed in the document.

Vale says it has complied with internal guidelines for collaborating with all authorities involved in the investigation of the dam collapse since day one.