Worker killed one hour after manager identified hazardous conditions, while traffic management firm faces charges over lone worker death

A mining contractor has been ordered to pay $540,000 in fines and costs after a worker was killed by falling rocks just one hour after a senior manager had identified the task as dangerous and instructed the worker to stop.

The tragic sequence of events at an underground gold mine has prompted renewed calls for mining operators to strengthen safety systems, while separately, a traffic management company faces charges over the death of a lone worker in a vehicle collision.

Fatal Hour After Safety Warning

RUC Mining Contractors Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to breaches under Western Australia’s Work Health and Safety Act following the October 2022 death of a driller at a Gold Fields Australia underground mine near Kalgoorlie.

The Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court heard disturbing details about the incident, which occurred during the disassembly of a reamer—a large cutting tool used in raiseboring operations to create vertical ventilation shafts.

The driller and a probationary offsider were working to disassemble the reamer at the base of a ventilation shaft when RUC’s area manager arrived at the site. The manager observed that protective rubber curtains were not properly installed and the driller was working directly beneath unsupported ground.

Despite instructing the driller to climb off the reamer due to the dangerous conditions, the area manager then left the shaft and work continued. Within an hour, the driller was struck by falling rocks while undoing bolts on the reamer’s head and died instantly.

Safety System Failures Exposed

The incident revealed critical failures in RUC’s risk management systems. Company safety procedures required the reamer’s head to be positioned so work occurred beneath supported ground, with rubber curtains providing additional protection from falling objects.

However, the reamer’s position made it difficult to properly install the protective curtains. While arrangements had been made for a specialist worker to reposition the equipment, the drilling team continued working in unsafe conditions.

The probationary offsider, standing nearby during the rock fall, was knocked to the ground and sustained minor physical injuries along with psychological trauma.

Serious Penalty Imposed

RUC was fined $540,000 and ordered to pay $8,414 in costs after admitting to exposing both workers “to a risk of death or of injury or harm.” The company initially faced more serious Category 1 charges, which were subsequently withdrawn.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Sally North emphasized that raiseboring activities involve multiple serious hazards including “not only rock falls but also from equipment failure, ground failure and the inrush of mud, drill cuttings, water or gas.”

“I encourage all mining operators and contractors involved in raiseboring activities to ensure a safe system of work is in place to ensure risks have been eliminated or minimised, and that workers are consulted on the procedures, equipment and training,” North stated.

Traffic Management Company Faces Charges

In a separate case, Victorian traffic management company Blackwood & Co Pty Ltd, trading as MakeSafe Traffic Management, has been charged over the August 2023 death of a lone worker conducting streetlight inspections.

The worker was travelling alone in a utility vehicle along the Eastern Freeway when he stopped to inspect streetlights. His vehicle was subsequently struck by another vehicle, causing fatal injuries.

WorkSafe Victoria alleges MakeSafe failed to implement adequate safety systems, including:

• Requiring workers to conduct streetlight inspections in pairs
• Eliminating the need for workers to stop and exit patrol vehicles during inspections
• Failing to provide a safe system of work for lone workers

Lone Worker Safety Highlighted

The charges against MakeSafe highlight ongoing concerns about lone worker safety, particularly in roadside environments where workers face multiple hazards from traffic, weather conditions, and the inherent risks of working in isolation.

The company faces charges under Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to provide a safe system of work and maintain a safe workplace. The matter is scheduled for a filing hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 10.

Industry-Wide Implications

Both cases underscore critical workplace safety principles that extend across industries. The mining incident demonstrates how quickly safe situations can deteriorate when proper procedures aren’t strictly followed, while the traffic management case highlights the elevated risks faced by workers operating alone in hazardous environments.

For mining operators, the RUC case serves as a stark reminder that identifying hazards is meaningless without ensuring appropriate action is taken. The tragic timing—death occurring just one hour after safety concerns were raised—emphasizes the critical importance of stopping work until hazards are properly controlled.

The traffic management charges reinforce obligations to consider alternative work methods that eliminate or reduce risks, particularly for vulnerable lone workers operating in high-risk environments like busy roadways.