Fortescue ordered to improve safety
- {{x.value}}
{{ twilioFailed ? 'SMS Code Failed to Send…' : 'Enter verification code' }}
{{ completedStep1 ? 'Authentication & Security' : content.trialHeading.replace('{0}', user.FirstName) }}
{{ content.upgradeHeading.replace('{0}', user.FirstName) }}
The email address you entered is registered with InvestSMART
Please login to continue
We have sent you an email with the details of your registration.
Looks you are already a member. Please enter your password to proceed
{{ upgradeCTAText }}
Updating information
Please wait ...
Your membership to InvestSMART Group recently failed to renew.
Please make sure your payment details are up to date to continue your membership.
Having trouble renewing?
Please contact Member Services on support@investsmart.com.au or 1300 880 160
You've recently updated your payment details.
It may take a few minutes to update your subscription details, during this time you will not be able to view locked content.
If you are still having trouble viewing content after 10 minutes, try logging out of your account and logging back in.
Still having trouble viewing content?
Please contact Member Services on support@investsmart.com.au or 1300 880 160
Please click on the ACTIVATE button to activate your Intelligent Investor 15-day free trial
Please click on the ACTIVATE button to finalise your membership
Unsuccessful registration
Registration for this event is available only to Eureka Report members. View our membership page for more information.
Registration for this event is available only to Intelligent Investor members. View our membership page for more information.
- You are already registered for this event.
- This event is already full.
- Please select a quantity for at least one ticket.
- {{ i }}
Forgotten password
Please enter your email address below to request a new password
- Verify your email address by clicking on the link we sent to {{user.Email}}
- You now have free access, we look forward to helping you on your financial journey.
AAP
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd has been ordered to improve its safety procedures by the mines regulator following the death of a man at its Christmas Creek mine.
The 23-year-old contractor was carrying out maintenance on a surface miner, a large piece of mining machinery, in the Pilbara mine's heavy vehicle workshop when the accident occurred overnight on Monday.
It is the second death at the iron ore mine in less than five months.
The West Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) has issued special directions ensuring that Fortescue tightens safety procedures at all of its operations, including lock out/tag out procedures, ahead of a safety audit in the new year.
Surface mining operations at Christmas Creek have been suspended as DMP inspectors carry out a site investigation.
"The inspectorate has so far determined that a number of recent incidents at Fortescue Metals Group mine sites appear to have involved an ineffectual isolation and lock out/tag out process," State mining engineer Simon Ridge said.
"This may or may not be a contributory factor in this most recent incident."
He said the legal directions would remain in place until Fortescue could ensure lock out/tag out procedures were effective.
Staff at Christmas Creek have been offered chaplains and other counselling services following the man's death.
His name is yet to be released by police.
Unions are concerned the company's efficiency program is being prioritised over safety.
CFMEU Construction Division WA secretary Mick Buchan said his union had received complaints about safety concerns at Christmas Creek in recent months, including anonymous emails from workers who were worried about identifying themselves.
"We want the full gamut of potential contributing factors to be examined in detail, including potentially unsafe working hours on site, the capacity of unions to access the site to assess safety, the replacement of experienced workers with cheaper alternatives – the lot," Mr Buchan said.
He said the death was a huge alarm that something was wrong on the site.
"We need to get to the bottom of it quickly and accurately before anyone else is killed or hurt."
Fortescue said another worker had suffered leg injuries in the incident.
The man's death comes 4.5 months after electrician Kurt Williams, 24, was crushed to death while carrying out maintenance work on a large motor in the crushing plant at Christmas Creek.
Mr Williams' death broke a two-year fatality-free run at Western Australia's mines.
At the time, Electrical Trades Union WA secretary Les McLaughlan said the union had raised concerns about safety practices and specific concerns about the kind of work Mr Williams was undertaking.
In October, truck driver had his leg amputated after being crushed at the Christmas Creek mine.
Earlier this month, a contract construction worker Stephen Hampton was killed at Newcrest's Telfer gold mining operations when a large piece of pipework rolled onto him.
Call 1300 880 160
Start a chat
Schedule a call
