A subsidiary of gold miner Westgold Resources has been fined for the second time in 16 months over workplace safety incidents, with the latest fine being one of the largest ever handed down.
A subsidiary of gold miner Westgold Resources has been fined for the second time in 16 months over workplace safety incidents, with the latest fine being one of the largest ever handed down in Western Australia.
Big Bell Gold Operations Pty Ltd was today fined $945,000 and ordered to pay $20,000 in costs after a truck fatally struck a worker at its Big Bell underground mine near Cue in the Mid West.
Big Bell pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court to an offence under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (WA) of failing to provide and maintain a working environment in which an employee of a contractor was not exposed to hazards.
In March this year, the same company was fined $400,000 after a worker’s arm was trapped in a conveyor at its Bluebird gold processing plant north-west of Cue.
In a statement, WorkSafe said the latest offence does not indicate that the breach caused the fatal incident.
“However, it highlights a failure in terms of safe systems of work,” it stated.
The latest fine reflects a trend towards larger penalties for workplace safety breaches, a shift encouraged by new WA legislation.
Big fines imposed in the last year include $875,000 for WA Salt Supplies, $850,000 for mining contractor Byrnecut, $750,000 for Northern Star Mining Services and $685,000 for engineering firm Monadelphous.
The fatal Big Bell incident occurred in December 2020, when the company engaged contractor Minterra Pty Ltd to perform mining operations at its mine.
During a night shift at the site 24km north-west of Cue, a Minterra employee-operated truck struck a Minterra employee, who died from their injuries.
WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said the case sent a strong message to all workplaces, but particularly those with mobile plant, that it is essential to provide workers with the necessary information, instructions and training for their roles.
“Big Bell Gold Operations failed to provide its contractor’s employees involved in the fatal incident with sufficient information, instructions and training to ensure positive communication was established between pedestrians and drivers underground,” she said.
“Neither employee had prior mining industry experience, and neither employee had completed more than 80 hours of training related to truck driving.
“The company had written procedures to provide for the safety of pedestrians near vehicles underground, although induction materials could have been clearer.
“However, written procedures alone are insufficient. Procedures must be effectively implemented to reduce risks.”
In a memo to Westgold staff seen by Business News, managing director Wayne Bramwell addressed the death of 25-year old truck driver Paige Counsell.
“Westgold worked closely with our industry’s regulators and various authorities in the course of their investigations into the accident,” he said.
“We undertook our own comprehensive review of our overarching OHS Management Plan in effect at the time and are grateful to the regulators, DEMIRS and WorkSafe for their thorough investigation, and for the safety improvements that came from it.
“While it will not lessen their loss, we hope that the finalisation of this process may offer some closure for Paige’s loved ones.”
Mr Bramwell said he had met again with Ms Counsell’s mother recently and a memorial had been installed at the Big Bell mine.
