The Australian Workers Union (AWU) is calling for an inquiry into mine safety in Western Australia after the death of a contract worker on Christmas Eve.
The 39 year-old worker died at a workshop at the Cloudbreak mine, located north-east of Newman and owned by Fortescue Metals Group, at 10:00am on Friday.
He is believed to have been removing a hub from a vehicle at the time of his death.
Fortescue Metals Group says mining and processing operations have been suspended at Cloudbreak as a mark of respect.
Regulatory authorities including Western Australia’s Department of Mines and Petroleum will conduct an investigation into the accident.
AWU West Australian state secretary, Stephen Price, says a transparent, open-ended inquiry into mine safety in the state is needed.
“Miners everywhere will be feeling for the family knowing this awful tragedy is part of the continuing poor mine safety trend in this state,” he said.
“This is another tragic accident, which is becoming all too familiar within the Western Australian mining industry, at a time when we are heading into another resource boom.
“Unfortunately money talks and the interests of the ordinary mine worker is ignored.
“The State Government must act – and not once again sweep these tragedies under the carpet and go on ignoring the ugly reality of mine safety in Western Australia.”
A mines department safety inspector has been sent to the accident site to investigate the death.
Sergeant Bill Allan of Newman police says a doctor is on site but the cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
“It’s Christmas time and unfortunately there are going to be a lot of sad and sorry people around here at this time,” he said.
The WA Minister for Mines, Norman Moore, has extended his sympathies to the man’s family.
“It’s very distressing when anyone gets killed at any time at any workplace,” he said.
“But I guess it’s even more distressing that it’s Christmas Eve, and all that goes with that.
“I feel terribly upset about this and I have no doubt that his family is suffering very badly.”
Counselling will be made available to the family of the dead worker, and to employees at the mine.
– ABC/AAP
Source: www.abc.net.au
