‘Tragic’: Investigations continue into two mining deaths within days in Western Australia

Horrific details have been revealed about the workplace death of a man who became the second person to die at an Australian mine site this week.

A 59-year-old man who died at a West Australian goldmine this week was run over by a large dump truck, it has been revealed.

It was reported on Thursday that the man had died at Capricorn Metals’ Karlawinda mine, near Newman, in the Pilbara region.

It is understood a haul truck and a light vehicle crashed on a ramp about 7.30am, with the man dying at the scene.

Superintendent Kim Massam described the death as “terrible”, adding authorities were working to understand why it happened and what lessons could be learnt.

“The investigation will take its course and it will be thorough because it needs to be. We need to understand what’s happened,” he told the ABC.

“Our mining community are very conscious of safety, but it just hammers home the continued need to be as vigilant as we can.

Investigations have been launched into two separate mining incidents. Picture: Gold Fields

“The most important thing that comes out of the mine site are our people that go into it every day.

“This is a tragic incident that some family is without a loved one today.”

Superintendent Massam said the co-worker driving the truck was “clearly distraught” following the incident.

WorkSafe Mines safety inspectors and WA Police have travelled to the site to investigate the incident.

The worker is an employee of mining contractor MACA, which said in a statement that it was mobilising senior leaders to the site.

“Our thoughts are with the family, friends and workmates of our colleague,” chief executive David Greig said on Thursday.

“We will be providing support to our colleague’s family and our teams as we all work through this tragic event.”

Capricorn Metals said mining operations had been temporarily suspended.

“Everyone at Capricorn is shocked and saddened by the fatality at the Karlawinda mine site this morning,” executive chairman Mark Clark said in a statement on Thursday.

“Our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to the MACA employee’s family, friends and colleagues.”

The $175m mine employs about 250 people and produced its first gold in June last year.

It was the second mining fatality in WA this week following a death of a contractor at Gold Fields’ St Ives site, near Kambalda, on Tuesday afternoon.

A worker was killed at the St Ives site. Picture: Gold Fields

A second contractor also suffered minor injuries.

Gold Fields Australasia executive vice-president Stuart Mathews said the worker’s death was a “devastating loss” and all mining activity at the site had been suspended.

The South African mining giant has launched an investigation into the incident and is working with WA authorities.

But the Australian Workers’ Union has complained their representatives have not been allowed proper access to the site since the tragedy.

NCA NewsWire understands union representatives will have access on Friday.

“All workers should go to work and return home safely to their family. One death at work is one too many,” the union said.

WorkSafe commissioner Darren Kavanagh said any work-related death was a tragedy and conveyed his condolences to everyone involved.

“WorkSafe is unable to provide further details of either fatality at this time,” a statement on Thursday read.

The incidents come after David Armstrong, 25, died at Fortescue Metals Group’s Solomon Hub operations in the Pilbara region in September last year when there was a ground collapse.

A couple of weeks earlier, a 52-year-old man fell to his death at CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron mine, about 100km south of Karratha.

Originally published as ‘Tragic’: Investigations continue into two mining deaths within days in Western Australia