Hanson Construction fined $130k after haul truck plunges 15m in WA mine, killing driver

An Australian company has been fined after a worker was killed when the haul truck he was driving fell 15m in an open pit mine.

A leading Australian construction company has been fined $130,000 over the death of a worker who was killed after the haul truck he was driving fell 15m in an open pit mine.

Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd (Hanson) pleaded guilty to failing to maintain a safe work environment in Western Australia’s Midland Magistrates Court on Thursday June 15.

The incident occurred on June 20, 2019, at Hanson’s Red Hill quarry, about 30km northeast of Perth, where aggregate or “blue metal” was being mined.

A construction company has been fined $130,000 over the death of a worker at the red hill quarry. Picture: Nine

The truck was travelling along a road carved into the outer wall of the quarry, known as a “bench”, which at one point went from a width of 11m to 6.5m.

On one side of the bench road was a sheer drop.

The man inside the truck, Andrew Herd, was an experienced driver who had been working at the quarry for seven months.

At the time of the incident he had restricted visibility of about 7m to ground level due to the size of the truck.

At about 6.50am, a front wheel of the truck went over the edge of a narrow part of the road, tilting the vehicle and causing it to topple to the bench below.

Mr Herd was found dead at the scene.

The construction company failed to meet safety thresholds. Picture: Nine

It was found Hanson failed to meet safety thresholds or recommended safety features in the construction of a barrier along the edge of the bench to deflect vehicles, known as a “windrow”.

Acting WorkSafe chief inspector Mines Christina Folley said the tragedy could have been avoided.

“This incident is a timely reminder that all companies should make worker safety their No. 1 priority,” she said.

“Hanson Construction Materials should have conducted a risk assessment of the haul truck operation on the bench where the incident occurred.

“The company failed to implement these practicable measures in a consistent and adequate way.”

Hanson said in a statement it acknowledged the court’s decision and accepted the height of windrows in some places at the quarry did not meet the industry standard.

“Hanson deeply regrets the passing of Mr Herd and expresses its condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” a spokesperson said.

“Ensuring the safety of people is a core value at Hanson, and we will continue to strive to prevent and minimise risks to health and safety at our workplaces.”

The company was not charged with causing the worker’s death and was also ordered to pay $4000 in costs.

Hanson has since significantly increased the height of the windrows on the bench and improved its composition, according to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.