News

Fortescue incident remains under investigation

Fortescue

Fortescue Metals Group continues investigations into an incident that occurred at its Solomon Hub iron ore facilities in Western Australia’s Pilbara region last week.

The company has been working alongside relevant authorities including the WA Police and WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety to carry out inquiries after a collapse of ground caused one male worker to lose their life.

Fortescue was forced to temporarily suspend operations in the wake of the incident, but has since resumed ore processing activity at Solomon Hub as mining activity has also steadily increased.

Fortescue chief executive officer Elizabeth Gaines said the company was offering any assistance required for those affected.

“This is a very sad day for Fortescue and all our thoughts are with his family as we provide our full support to them at this very difficult time,” Gaines said.

“The wellbeing of the entire Fortescue family is our priority with a range of support services available across our sites, including the Fortescue Chaplains and Employee Assistance Program.”

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) also offered its condolences to those directly affected by the fatality.

“Our thoughts go to the worker’s family, friends and colleagues, as well as the emergency responders and mine safety inspectors,” MCA chief executive officer Tania Constable said in a statement.

“The minerals industry’s highest value and priority is the safety and health of its workforce.

“The MCA will continue to assist the commitment of its members and the broader mining sector to an industry free of fatalities, injuries and industrial diseases.”

Solomon Hub is located 300 kilometres south of Port Hedland and its three mines – Firetail, Kings Valley and Queens Valley – have the capacity to produce 75 million tonnes of iron ore per annum.

The Solomon Hub fatality came less than two weeks after another incident occurred at CITIC Pacific’s Sino Iron mine in Western Australia involving a 52-year-old maintenance worker.

In mid-September, operations were suspended at the Gregory Crinum coal mine in central Queensland following an incident involving two underground miners.

Leave a Reply

Send this to a friend