WorkSafe temporarily shut down a Western Australian open-pit iron ore mine after a routine safety inspection in July 2025 uncovered inadequate emergency response capabilities.
WorkSafe temporarily shut down a Western Australian open-pit iron ore mine after a routine safety inspection in July 2025 uncovered inadequate emergency response capabilities.
Inspectors from WA's workplace health and safety regulator issued a notice prohibiting the operation of the mine's heavy vehicles and limiting the movement of its light vehicles after they found the site-located more than 100 kilometres from the volunteer-staffed nearest responding agency-had no mobile plant and vehicle rescue equipment and minimal apparatus to deal with any emergency situation.
The mine's operations were halted for two days until it sourced the essential equipment and responded to WorkSafe with a commitment to modify its emergency management plan and train a suitable number of its personnel in the use of the apparatus.
Tony Robertson, Director WorkSafe Mines Safety, said the incident serves as a timely reminder to WA mine operators to ensure their emergency response capabilities meet the legal requirements under the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022.
"Vehicle and mobile plant interaction is one of WA's principal mining hazards, and not having the equipment required to respond places workers at significant risk in the event of an emergency," Mr Robertson said.
"Mobile equipment interactions, single-vehicle rollovers and vehicle fires are some of the most frequently reported events to WorkSafe.
"WorkSafe inspectors will continue their focus on ensuring WA mine operators have the necessary emergency response capabilities. It's every WA mine operator's duty to provide their workers with a safe workplace, and in the event of an emergency, they must be able to respond effectively, even if their geographical location is remote."
