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FMG investigated over safety issues

WA's Department of Mines and Petroleum is investigating four incidents involving worker safety at a Fortescue Metals Group mine.

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Source: AAP


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Four incidents involving worker safety at a Fortescue Metals Group mine site are being investigated by the West Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum.

The incidents occurred last week at FMG's Solomon Hub mine in the Pilbara region.

The department confirmed it was investigating a blast exclusion zone incident in which three people were in the zone, two water truck incident reports, and an incident involving an integrated tool carrier and a worker who received minor injuries.

The worker was transferred from Tom Price Hospital to Port Hedland Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

"Any incident is of concern and mine operators across WA's resources sector should always be looking to maintain and improve safety outcomes," the department's executive director of mine safety Simon Ridge said.

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Mr Ridge said inspectors would visit the site to investigate and if any "short comings" were identified, appropriate enforcement action would be taken.

It follows two deaths at FMG's Christmas Creek mine last year and an incident in which a contractor had his leg amputated following a truck crash.

FMG chief executive Nev Power said no one on an FMG site was ever expected to do anything that compromised safety.

"Our culture empowers everyone to take whatever action is required to ensure safe operation, including stopping production when necessary," he said in a statement.

"We are working to ensure our systems are as effective as possible in keeping people safe and that each of the 10,000 people working for and with Fortescue understand that the health and safety of our people is our highest priority."


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