WorkSafe has commenced prosecution proceedings under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 against six companies in relation to four workplace incidents.
WorkSafe has commenced prosecution proceedings under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 against six companies in relation to four workplace incidents that occurred in Western Australia in July and August 2024.
The matters relate to incidents at a mine site, a construction workplace, an auction facility and a tree-pruning operation. All four incidents involved fatalities.
Mine incident
Northern Star Resources Ltd, Northern Star (Thunderbox) Pty Ltd and Coogee Chemicals Pty Ltd have been charged in relation to an incident at the Thunderbox mine in August 2024.
Northern Star Resources Ltd has been charged with two offences alleging failures to comply with health and safety duties and, by those failures, causing the death of a worker. One of those charges has been laid in the alternative.
Northern Star (Thunderbox) Pty Ltd and Coogee Chemicals Pty Ltd have each been charged with an offence alleging a failure to comply with a health and safety duty that exposed individuals to a risk of death, injury or harm to health.
The charges relate to an incident in which a Coogee Chemicals Pty Ltd employee delivering caustic soda at the Thunderbox mine was exposed to a solution containing cyanide. The worker later died.
The matter is listed for first mention in the Laverton Magistrates Court on 10 September 2026.
Construction incident
Dunkeld Construction Pty Ltd has been charged in relation to an incident in Katanning in August 2024.
The company has been charged with an offence alleging a failure to comply with a health and safety duty and, by that failure, causing the death of a worker.
The charge relates to an incident in which a worker fell through a roof and died.
The matter is listed for first mention in the Katanning Magistrates Court on 14 September 2026.
Auction facility incident
Pickles Auctions Pty Limited has been charged in relation to an incident in Bibra Lake in August 2024.
The company has been charged with an offence alleging a failure to comply with a health and safety duty and, by that failure, causing the death of a member of the public.
The charge relates to an incident in which a member of the public was struck by a tow truck and died.
The matter is listed for first mention in the Fremantle Magistrates Court on 7 September 2026.
Tree-pruning incident
Mr Palmer WA Pty Ltd has been charged in relation to an incident in Maida Vale in July 2024.
The company has been charged with an offence alleging a failure to comply with a health and safety duty and, by that failure, exposing a worker to a risk of death, injury or harm to health.
The charge relates to an incident in which a worker died while pruning a tree. The prosecution does not allege that the alleged contravention caused the worker's death.
The matter is listed for next mention in the Armadale Magistrates Court on 15 September 2026.
As these matters are before the courts, WorkSafe will make no further comment.
