WorkSafe

WorkSafe is investigating the work-related death of a man on a mine site near Wiluna in Western Australia’s Goldfields-Esperance region this morning. 

WorkSafe investigators from Perth and WorkSafe Mines Safety inspectors from Kalgoorlie will attend the site, which is 900 kilometres north-east of the State capital. They will arrive tomorrow. 

WorkSafe investigators examine the circumstances surrounding incidents to ensure compliance and prevent future occurrences of a similar nature. 

A mining fabrication company has been fined $500,000 (and ordered to pay more than $6500 in costs) over an incident in which a worker was seriously injured by a falling metal plate.

G & G Mining Fabrication Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing serious harm to a worker and was fined in the Midland Magistrates Court today.

In August 2021, a boilermaker was employed at the company’s workshop in Hazelmere where mining and earthmoving equipment was manufactured, including heavy excavator buckets.

A construction company has been fined $250,000 (and ordered to pay more than $6000 in costs) after the death of a 19-year-old worker in 2021.

PAWS Construction and Maintenance Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and was fined in the Fremantle Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

In November 2021, a PAWS Construction employee died after suffering a traumatic head injury when he was struck by a sea container drawbridge ramp weighing around 250kg. At the time he was assisting his supervisor to lower the ramp.

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 gold mine near Cue in Western Australia’s Mid West. 

WorkSafe temporarily shut down a Western Australian open-pit iron ore mine after a routine safety inspection in July 2025 uncovered inadequate emergency response capabilities. 

Inspectors from WA’s workplace health and safety regulator issued a notice prohibiting the operation of the mine’s heavy vehicles and limiting the movement of its light vehicles after they found the site—located more than 100 kilometres from the volunteer-staffed nearest responding agency—had no mobile plant and vehicle rescue equipment and minimal apparatus to deal with any emergency situation. 

A construction company has been fined $750,000 and a company director fined $45,000 over an incident in which a worker from another business was seriously injured in a fall.

CASM Construction Pty Ltd (administrators appointed) pleaded guilty to failing to ensure workers were not exposed to hazards and, by that failure, causing serious harm to a worker, and was fined in Northam Magistrates Court on Monday.

A company director also pleaded guilty to neglect as a director and was fined during the same court appearance. He was granted a spent conviction.

Quarrying services company Kimberley Quarry Pty Ltd was today fined $167,000 after a screening machine operator fell more than three metres while changing heavy screens and sustained multiple injuries, including internal bleeding, ligament damage and a spinal fracture.

Kimberley Quarry pleaded guilty in the Geraldton Magistrates Court to two offences under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA)—exposing workers to a risk of death, injury or harm to health and failing to preserve the site of a notifiable incident.

A concrete manufacturing company has been fined $580,000 (and ordered to pay $6180 in costs) after a worker was seriously injured at its Neerabup concrete batching plant.

Ransberg Pty Ltd - trading as WA Premix – pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and, by that failure, causing serious harm to a worker, and was fined in the Joondalup Magistrates Court last week.

In December 2020, a worker at the plant suffered serious harm when a large waste pit gate fell onto him.

A hay processing company in regional WA has been fined $595,000 (and ordered to pay $5510.00 in costs) over a serious injury to a worker.

HA Hold Co Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and, by that failure, causing serious harm to a worker, and was fined in the Northam Magistrates Court on April 16.

In January 2023, a leading hand was working under a labour hire arrangement at the hay processing plant at Carani in the Wheatbelt, operating a small hay press.