Stephen Perry death inquest 'an emotional roller coaster' for miner's family

As the inquest into the 2012accident that claimed the life of Corner Brook'sStephen Perry ata Vale mine in Sudbury continues this week, his six siblings in the audience are having a tough time with the process.

"It's just been a real emotional roller coaster for everybody," Perry's brother Tom Perry told CBC Radio's Corner Brook Morning Show.

• 'He was excellent, I miss him,' Stephen Perry's colleague tells inquest
• Stephen Perry death inquest begins today at Sudbury courthouse

"Especially myniece [Stephen's daughter]Brittany, and all the people involved in the accident directly."

It would be great for the family, that something good could come out of this.- Tom Perry

A five-person jury is listening to testimony in the mandatory publicinquest, taking placein a Sudbury courtroom.

Tom Perry said the hardest part so far has been hearing details of his brother's death.

"When the supervisor found Steve when he talked about that, he had a real hard time. And Ithink there wasn't a dry eye in the courthouse," said Perry.

"It was tough."

Making changes

Stephen Perry was killed when he was struck by a 14-tonnerockthat hadbroken away from the face of the mine.

Tom Perry said screening rock faces with a safety barrier is on the list of recommendations to come out of the inquest.

"This face has been an issue for many, many years in the mining industry, so they're finally addressing that, which is really huge," said Perry.

"It would be great for the family, that something good could come out of this."

Perry added the mining company and the union have both been co-operative since his brother's death, and Vale has been proactive in making safety changes and innovations to prevent similar tragedies.

• Vale won't be charged in mine worker's death

But the Perry family isn't pleased it's takenfour years for the inquest to happen.

"We're not very happy with that. It'squite a length of time, four years after, and we gotta rehash this whole thing over again. it'spretty tough," said Perry.

The mandatoryinquiry is expected to last five days and hear from about 10 witnesses. The resultscould lead to future recommendations.