Independence Group NL (ASX: IGO) has confirmed that a contractor has died in Perth hospital following injuries sustained at the Nova Operation on 11 September 2019. The 57-year-old truck driver worked for a haulage contractor and was reportedly securing a load when the incident occurred.
Preliminary information indicates that the deceased man was operating the trailer covering system on the second trailer of a road train when he sustained severe head injuries.
The incident is the second transport related incident this year in Western Australia. Earlier in 2019, a 67-year-old Baldivis man died following an incident with an explosives truck.
In a statement to the ASX Independence Group’s Managing Director and CEFO Peter Bradford said “The incident involved an employee of our concentrate haulage contractor who was injured on-site and subsequently passed away yesterday (18th September 2019) in hospital as a result of his injuries. IGO is in close contact with the contractor who is providing full support to the family.”
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic news and our heartfelt condolences go to the family. All our contractors, whether they are site-based or not, are part of the IGO team.
“We are making every effort to ensure we care for the wellbeing of all of our people,” said Peter Bradford, IGO’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.”
Independence Group said that the incident occurred while the individual was securing the truck’s load prior to departure from the site.
The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety was immediately informed and visited the site to undertake an initial investigation during which time IGO elected to suspend operations for 29 hours.
IGO and the concentrate haulage contractor are working closely with the Department to provide every assistance during the continuing investigation.
The Nova Operation is located in the Fraser Range, approximately 160km east-northeast of Norseman, 360km southeast of Kalgoorlie and 380km from the Port of Esperance in Western Australia.
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