WorkSafe

The tragic loss of life and significant environmental impacts associated with the failure of a tailings storage facility (TSF) at Vale’s Córrego do Feijão iron ore mine in Brazil has highlighted the devastation that can occur when critical mine infrastructure fails.

In light of this tragedy it is important to provide information about similar infrastructure on Western Australian mines and how it is regulated.

There are more than 800 TSFs in Western Australia, with approximately two thirds categorised as shut - including historic TSFs.

ThinkSafe is the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety's (DMIRS) new online publication for workplace safety and health in Western Australia.

DMIRS Deputy Director General Safety Ian Munns said that while the look, design and production of the magazine has changed, its primary aims haven't.

"The new-look online magazine ThinkSafe will play an important role in raising general awareness of safety and health issues," Mr Munns said.

Dampier Salt Limited was today fined $20,000 and ordered to pay $6,283 in costs after a worker’s head and neck became trapped while working at height at the company’s Port Hedland salt operations.

In July 2018, two contractors were using an elevating work platform (EWP) to inspect the underside of a large salt stacker. A third man was working at ground level as the leading hand and spotter.

• Program designed to stamp out sexual harassment and assault in the resources sector
• Extra funding will address mental health, workplace culture, and drug and alcohol use

The McGowan Government today announced an additional $6.5 million for the Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) program as part of the State Budget 2022-23.

Launched in December 2021, the MARS program boosts responses to mental health, workplace culture and mine safety in Western Australia’s mining sector.

• The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and regulations will commence March 31, 2022
• After 38 years, WA’s work health and safety laws will be modernised

The McGowan Government’s new Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws begin tomorrow improving protections for all Western Australian workers.

A national first, the new laws bring together WHS for general industry, mines and petroleum operations under a single act.

BHP Iron Ore Pty Ltd was today fined $125,000 after a contractor suffered a lacerated artery from being struck in the neck by a metal shard in September 2017.

The incident occurred while the contactor was working on an excavator during routine maintenance works at BHP’s Whaleback iron ore mine located about six kilometres from Newman.

BHP pleaded guilty in the South Hedland Magistrates Court after being charged with causing serious harm to an employee and failing to provide a workplace where employees were not exposed to hazards.

Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd was today fined $80,000 and ordered to pay $7,500 in costs after three workers were exposed to extreme conditions without proper training.

The company pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court for failing to ensure the safety of employees.

On 14 October 2017, two workers and a supervisor were searching for proposed drill sites in rugged terrain while working at Mount Windell in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The work took place over two days in temperatures estimated to be higher than 37°C.

Mining and petroleum operators are reminded to review their contingency plans for the 2021-22 cyclone season.

Employers in control of workplaces in cyclone sensitive regions must have adequate plans in place and provide adequate training to protect workers in the event of a cyclone.

Newcrest Mining Limited has today been fined $105,000 and ordered to pay $6,255 in costs after a woman suffered serious injuries to several parts of her body during an attack by dingoes.

The incident happened in July 2018 at the Telfer Mine, located within the Great Sandy Desert in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The worker was a contractor on site as part of a maintenance shut down.

In the lead up to the incident, the employee was eating a sandwich in an outside barbeque area at the mine site.

Information designed to help Western Australians prepare for the State’s new work health and safety laws has been published on the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) website.

A video message from the Minister for Industrial Relations, Stephen Dawson, is supported by wide range of educational content.