Worksafe investigates death of drilling contractor at mineral exploration site in WA's northern Goldfields   

Dec 6 2024
ABC News
 
The ABC understands the 29-year-old man was employed by Kalgoorlie-based Challenge Drilling.   

In short:   
A drilling contractor has died at a remote mineral exploration site in Western Australia.

The 29-year-old man is the second fatality in WA's resources sector this year after a 21-year-old died at a Kambalda gold mine in April.

What's next?
Safety inspectors from WorkSafe WA are due to arrive on site on Friday.


Authorities are investigating after a 29-year-old drilling contractor was killed at a mining exploration site in Western Australia's remote northern Goldfields.

Perth-based gold exploration company Saturn Metals has told the ASX the fatality occurred on Thursday afternoon at its Apollo Hill project, near Kookynie, about 790 kilometres north-east of Perth.

WA Police have attended the scene and safety inspectors from Worksafe will travel from Perth to the site today.

Police say they were alerted to a workplace incident around 2:50pm on Thursday and the 29-year-old man was deceased when officers arrived.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.   

The ABC understands the worker was employed by Kalgoorlie-based contractor Challenge Drilling, which was established in 1990 and has about 50 employees. 

Saturn Metals managing director Ian Bambrough and other senior management arrived on site on Thursday night.

The company has suspended exploration activities at Apollo Hill until further notice and counselling is being provided to personnel affected by the incident.

"The Saturn team is shocked and saddened and our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased worker," Mr Bambrough said in a statement.

Drill rigs working in a remote location.   
WorkSafe says it will "thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to this tragic loss".

'Tragic loss': Worksafe
The fatality follows the annual miners' memorial service held in Kalgoorlie-Boulder on Wednesday as part of the St Barbara's Festival, which pays tribute to workers who have died in WA's resources sector.

It is the second death in WA's mining industry this year after a 21-year-old was killed at the St Ives gold mine near Kambalda in April.

WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said she was unable to provide further details about the incident while the investigation was ongoing.

"On behalf of everyone at WorkSafe, I offer my deepest condolences to the worker's family, friends, and co-workers," she said.

"I assure the community that WorkSafe will thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to this tragic loss."

The fatality comes after WorkSafe successfully prosecuted US-based drilling contractor Boart Longyear in July, after a worker suffered head and spinal injuries at a remote exploration camp in February 2021.   

Boart Longyear was fined $385,000 after a worker's head was crushed while reassembling a drill rig at the West Musgrave copper-nickel project near WA's border with the Northern Territory and South Australia.

you post one of these a month whiteknight

they are noticed only because of their extreme rarity .

workplaces are safer then the commute to workplaces.

when you arrive at work, you should breath a sigh of relief that you are now safe from physical harm (being killed on the roads which the authorities cannot keep as safe as the noble employer)