Worker in truck rollover
South African mining giant Gold Fields has come under fire from the State’s top safety watchdog after two workers have been seriously injured at the company’s St Ives operations this week.
A contractor was being treated in Kalgoorlie Hospital late yesterday with "multiple fractures" after being involved in a truck rollover at the St Ives operations, near Kambalda.
The incident occurred about 2.30pm and is believed to have involved a road train and one carriage as ore was being transported to the Lefroy mill.
Reports suggested the road train jack-knifed and rolled onto its roof.
It follows an incident at the Athena underground mine on Sunday when another contractor suffered “broken bones and internal injuries” performing maintenance work.
A Gold Fields spokesperson said yesterday he was in a stable condition in Perth. Four safety inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum were on the scene yesterday to begin full investigations.
"We have commenced thorough investigations into these incidents, and we are interviewing witnesses and inspecting both scenes," DMP resources safety executive director Simon Ridge said.
"As a regulator, it is completely concerning and disheartening that these incidents have occurred.
"Every worker should expect to return home to their family and friends at the end of their swings or shifts.
"I strongly urge all managers to ensure mining workers aren’t placed in harm’s way, and I urge mining workers to remain careful and vigilant at all times."
WA’s resources sector last year achieved its first fatality-free year since records began in 1896.
