Mt Gibson Mining Ltd has been fined for failing to provide a safe working environment.
| Date: | Wednesday, 29 July 2015 |
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The charges were laid after an investigation by DMP revealed a lack of enforcement of suitable safety standards.
Mt Gibson Mining Ltd has been fined $30,000 after it was sentenced in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday 27 July.
Last month the company pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe working environment.
Department of Mines and Petroleum State Mining Engineer Andrew Chaplyn said the charges were laid after an investigation by the department revealed a lack of enforcement of suitable safety standards for employees working at height.
“Our investigation found the company had permitted work where a significant fall risk existed without proper safeguards in place,” Mr Chaplyn said.
“The work required risk assessment, working at height permits, fall arrest equipment and supervision, but none of this was carried out by the company.”
In imposing the fine, Magistrate Paul Alan Roth took into account the remedial actions taken by the company and an early guilty plea.
“This decision sends an important message to the resources industry about the importance of not just having safe systems of work and procedures in place, but ensuring they are followed and workers are supervised,” Mr Chaplyn said.
“However, it is also important that companies continue to look for ways to climb the hierarchy of control towards engineering solutions, isolation and elimination of hazards, as personal protective equipment and procedures can only provide so much protection.”
