❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses a recent mining fatality at CITIC Pacific's Sino Iron project, inquiring about accident details, investigation, and measures to prevent future incidents. The Minister outlines the investigation process, emphasizes operator responsibility, and commits to increased safety measures and resources.
AnsweredQoN 571Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MINING — CAPE PRESTON FATALITY
I refer the minister to the recent death of a worker at CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron project site at Cape Preston. (1) Are there any details of the accident the minister can tell the house? (2) Who is investigating the accident? (3) When will they report to the minister? (4) What is the minister doing to mitigate fatalities in the mining industry? Hon NORMAN MOORE
I refer the minister to the recent death of a worker at CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron project site at Cape Preston. (1) Are there any details of the accident the minister can tell the house? (2) Who is investigating the accident? (3) When will they report to the minister? (4) What is the minister doing to mitigate fatalities in the mining industry? Hon NORMAN MOORE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(1) Are there any details of the accident the minister can tell the house? (2) Who is investigating the accident? (3) When will they report to the minister? (4) What is the minister doing to mitigate fatalities in the mining industry? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(2) Who is investigating the accident? (3) When will they report to the minister? (4) What is the minister doing to mitigate fatalities in the mining industry? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(3) When will they report to the minister? (4) What is the minister doing to mitigate fatalities in the mining industry? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(4) What is the minister doing to mitigate fatalities in the mining industry? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(1) Are there any details of the accident the minister can tell the house? (2) Who is investigating the accident? (3) When will they report to the minister? (4) What is the minister doing to mitigate fatalities in the mining industry? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(2) Who is investigating the accident? (3) When will they report to the minister? (4) What is the minister doing to mitigate fatalities in the mining industry? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(3) When will they report to the minister? (4) What is the minister doing to mitigate fatalities in the mining industry? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(4) What is the minister doing to mitigate fatalities in the mining industry? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(1) A 34-year-old contract employee of Downer EDI Mining, servicing a DT04 track bulldozer at the CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron ore project near Cape Preston, received fatal injuries when a belly plate crushed him. This occurred on the south east waste dump of the main pit at about 0315 hours on Saturday, 30 May 2009. (2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(2) Department of Mines and Petroleum inspectors of mines are investigating the accident. Currently an inspector of mines and a special inspector of mines (machinery) are on site investigating the fatality. (3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(3) When the accident investigation report is completed it will be sent to the State Coroner. (4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
(4) Responsibility for safety rests with the operator of each mine site. Nevertheless, the government is committed to doing whatever it can to eliminate these tragedies from the industry. In response to the recent series of fatalities at BHP Billiton mine sites, inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum have stepped up their inspection program and have been directed to issue prohibition notices whenever they find something that does not comply with the regulations. As stated in the Kenner report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, the ratio of mines inspectors to mine workers is far lower in Western Australia than is the case in the other large mining states of New South Wales and Queensland. This is a situation inherited from the previous Labor state government. I intend to change this by providing more resources to the safety regulator, and cost recovery from industry cannot be ruled out as one means of funding additional inspectors. All of the recommendations made by Commissioner Kenner are now being considered as a matter of some urgency, including whether or not a safety-case methodology, similar to that adopted across the petroleum industry, should be introduced to mining.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.