Inexperienced workers and cost pressures factors in mine death increase, safety inspector says

By Bonnie Christian

An influx of inexperienced mine workers is partly to blame for increased workplace fatalities in the West Australian resources industry, according to a State Government mine safety inspector.

The number of workplace deaths at mine sites has gradually increased from none in 2012, to three in 2013 and 2014, and to four so far in 2015.

Speaking at a Mine Safety Roadshow event which began in Geraldton yesterday, Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) regional inspector Doug Barclay said it was a concerning trend.

“We’ve had a number of fatalities from people being caught between moving equipment or having heavy loads fall on them,” he said.

“The use of elevating platforms in the workplace is another area of concern with a fatality from an operator who was pinned between an elevating basket of the machine.

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