Mining contractor fined $115,000 over Pilbara death

Originally posted on ABC News website

Mining contractor Crushing Services International (CSI) has been fined $115,000 over the death of an electrician at a Pilbara mine site in August last year.

Kurt Williams, 26, was greasing an electric motor at Fortescue Metal Group’s Christmas Creek mine when he was crushed by a ladder.

It was the first death in WA’s mining industry in almost two years.

CSI had pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to provide a safe working environment at a hearing in August this year.

The company had initially been fined $225,000 but this had been reduced by 30 per cent due to an early guilty plea and further reduced due to CSI’s remorse, previous clean record, and their cooperation and assistance with the investigation.

Along with the fine, the company was also ordered to pay costs of more than $3,000.

Department of Mines and Petroleum spokesman Simon Ridge said he was pleased the case had been settled.

“The company’s guilty plea has enabled this matter to be resolved quickly and saves the family further distress that a lengthy court process can cause,” he said.

CSI had operated the iron ore processing plant for Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) but was sacked after the death of Mr Williams.

FMG then took over responsibility for iron ore processing at all its WA mines.

CSI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mineral Resources Limited.

Chief financial officer and company secretary Bruce Goulds said CSI was working to ensure safety was a priority.

“We accept the court’s verdict and we think that … this whole incident, from the company’s point of view, is a tragedy and Kurt’s death is something that we in the company feel very deeply about,” he said.

But he said CSI was encouraged that the court had recognised it as having a good safety record and a record of good governance.

Originally posted at ABC News