A Western Australian gold mining company has been ordered to pay $945,000 in fines plus $20,000 in costs following the death of a worker at an underground mine site in December 2020.
Big Bell Gold Operations Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Westgold Resources Limited, pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court to failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
The fatal incident occurred during a night shift at the Big Bell underground gold mine, located 24 kilometres northwest of Cue in Western Australia’s Mid West region. A worker employed by contractor Minterra Pty Ltd was fatally struck by a truck operated by another Minterra employee.
WorkSafe WA Commissioner Sally North highlighted significant training deficiencies in her statement following the court proceedings.
“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,” Commissioner North said.
“Neither employee had prior mining industry experience, and neither employee had completed more than 80 hours of training related to truck driving.”
The court heard that while the company had written procedures for pedestrian safety around vehicles underground, the induction materials could have been clearer and the procedures were not effectively implemented.
Commissioner North emphasized that written procedures alone are insufficient and must be effectively implemented to reduce workplace risks. She noted the case sends a strong message to all workplaces, particularly those with mobile plant operations, about the essential need to provide workers with proper information, instructions and training.
The substantial fine reflects the serious nature of workplace safety breaches in high-risk industries and underscores the legal obligations of companies to ensure comprehensive safety training for all workers, including contractors.
