Central Norseman fined over worker death

Central Norseman Gold Corporation (CNGC) has been fined $150,000 in the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court today over the death of a worker two years ago at the company’s processing plant at its Norseman gold mine.

The court heard that Lindsay Bridges was fatally crushed in July 2016 when a corroded gantry bridge collapsed on him while he was working beneath it.

Mr Bridges had been tasked with removing a large pipe known as a rake shaft that was designed to hang from the bridge. 

However, the bridge structure had been corroded to such an extent that the bridge was being supported by the rake shaft and it collapsed as Mr Bridges was attempting to remove the pipe.

Mr Bridges died while being transported to hospital.

Department of Mines Industry Regulation and Safety director of mines safety Andrew Chaplyn said the tragic incident would have been prevented if good safety management systems were in place.

“CNGC was aware that its processing plant was old and was in generally poor condition,” Mr Chaplyn said.

“If CNGC had implemented, maintained and enforced an appropriate system of work, a structural integrity review, or a thorough condition assessment of the bridge would have been undertaken before Mr Bridges was tasked with removing the rake shaft.

“This tragic consequence of the company’s lack of attention to an issue, which should have been identified, highlights the need for vigilance by management in ensuring that safety protocols are strictly observed.”

Pantoro acquired a 50 per cent stake in the Norseman mine in May.