A mine worker has died after falling at an iron ore mine in western Tasmania.
Grange Resources has been placed in a trading halt, after one of the contracted staff fell a considerable distance to his death at the Savage River Iron Ore Mine, 113km southwest of Burnie.
QMEB has learnt the 32-year-old worker is originally from Queensland.
Australian Workers Union assistant secretary Robert Flanagan reveals the disaster unfolded during a scaling operation in the mine’s north pit.
“It’s the union’s understanding that the contractors were engaged in scaling operations in part of the mine’s operations,” he told the ABC.
“Scaling operations are undertaken to ensure that loose material cannot be dislodged from a work area. Any workplace fatality is a tragedy and the union’s thoughts are clearly with the family and friends of the deceased worker, and we continue to endeavour to ensure that workplaces are as safe as possible.”
Grange Resources says trading will resume “upon release of an announcement regarding the incident, whichever is earlier”.
WorkSafe Tasmania’s investigation continues.
