A Magistrate has fined a drilling company $385,000 after a worker was seriously injured at a remote exploration camp in WA.The company says it has implemented new safety procedures and training to prevent a repeat of the incident.
When driller's assistant Luke Frame tried to reconnect some hoses, the rod handler arm unexpectedly rotated down and crushed his head against another part of the rig. Sentencing the company, Magistrate Paul Lyons said the fine reflected the seriousness of the incident and "cannot be written off as a cost of doing business".
Mr Lyons said it was difficult to determine when the hydraulic system was "compromised", or "when air was introduced". "The relevance of that report is it stood as a warning to the accused and others working in the mining industry, that this is possible and can cause significant harm," he said.