Inspectors probe Telfer mine death
A contract worker died yesterday at Telfer gold mine in the Pilbara.
Newcrest Mining, the company which owns Telfer, confirmed the incident happened at about 9.30am at the tailings discharge line on the tailings dam.
The contractor's employers were notifying the man's next of kin last night and authorities including the Marble Bar police and the Department of Mines and Petroleum had been notified.
A Newcrest spokeswoman said the company was offering counselling to Telfer workers.
"I can confirm that there was an incident this morning at the tailings discharge line on the tailings dam, which has tragically resulted in the death of a contractor," the spokeswoman said.
"We extend our sincerest condolences to the contractor's family, friends and colleagues."
Newcrest suspended work at the mine as a result of the fatality. It was expected that work would resume last night.
The Department of Mines and Petroleum said inspectors were last night on site investigating the incident.
A spokeswoman said it was the second mine-site death in WA this year after New Zealand-born electrical engineer Kurt Williams, 26, was killed in August at Fortescue Metals Group's Christmas Creek mine.
A report from the investigation into yesterday's fatality would eventually be sent to the State coroner.
"At this time our thoughts are with the family, friends and work colleagues of the deceased," the spokeswoman said.
The mining union was last night unaware of any details about the incident but claimed there was a poor safety record at mine sites.
