Heavy machinery injury lands mining company $750K fine

In Western Australia, Northern Star Mining Services Pty Ltd — an underground mining services company — has been fined $750,000 and ordered to pay $3211 in costs after a drill operator sustained spinal and leg injuries while working on heavy machinery. In the Perth Magistrates Court, the company pleaded guilty to two offences under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) for exposing workers to the risk of death, injury or harm to health, and causing serious harm to a worker.

A drill operator had been helping repair and service a Sandvik twin boom Jumbo drill at a workshop that was part of Northern Star Resources Ltd.’s Carusoe Dam operations in January 2023. Northern Star Mining Services had been contracted by Northern Star Resources to work at its Carusoe Dam site. Workers were required to isolate the Jumbo’s power source, as was required by the some of the maintenance activities, while other processes required the drill to be energised for testing and adjusting.

An Isolation and Tagging Safe Work Procedure was in place at the time of the incident — so workers could identify potential hazards and outline necessary control measures. The procedure stated that:

• when testing and adjusting was not required, workers should completely isolate the Jumbo drill’s power and apply a personal danger lock and tag; and
• supervisors should use barricades or hazard tape to exclude workers from the energised Jumbo’s area of operation.
   

The company did not implement the control measures set out in the procedure in this instance, due to failings in supervision and direction.

When a drill operator tested the left boom on the evening of the incident, the boom rail moved uncontrollably due to an internal fault, it then swung downwards and struck a worker, causing serious injuries. Northern Star Mining Services made improvements to the training associated with the procedure and upgraded other engineering and administrative controls following the incident.

The company could have avoided the incident if it had followed proper processes, WorkSafe WA Commissioner Sally North said. “Isolation and tagging safe work procedures are in place to protect workers and must be followed to reduce risk and prevent injury,” North said. “Management and supervisors must ensure workers handling hazardous energy and machinery are properly trained, instructed and supervised.”

Image credit: iStock.com/agnormark. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.