Companies fined for truck driver death
Three mining and construction services companies have been fined a total of $770,000 for an incident that led to the death of a truck driver in 2022 on the Great Northern Highway.
At about 9.27pm on July 25, 2022, the ratchet strap securing the intake boom of a pump being transported to Perth failed and the boom became unrestrained before striking and killing the driver of a truck travelling in the opposite direction just north of Meekatharra.
On October 14, the Perth Magistrates Court fined Resource Operations and Maintenance Services, Diverse Management Services and Technologies International Group after they plead guilty to failing to ensure that the health and safety of other persons was not put at risk from their work.
WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North says the incident was a tragic reminder of the importance of closely following operating procedures, especially when transporting large items of plant.
“A truck driver was just doing his normal job of driving when, out of nowhere at night, he was struck and killed by an unsecured section of a load being transported in the opposite direction,” Ms North said.
“The two companies that had a role in securing the pump did not take steps to make sure that it was secured according to the operating procedure supplied by the hiring company.
“However, the hiring company must also accept some responsibility for not installing measures that ensured the boom could not rotate or move during transport.
“None of the companies took all reasonably practicable measures to reduce the risk of an incident of this type, and the end result was that a man sadly lost his life.”
According to the WA Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety Department (LGIRSD), the three companies were completing earthworks at a mine site that required the use of large amounts of water. The mine operator requested Resource Operations to provide a water pump known as a MegaFill pump, which was procured by Diverse from Technologies International Group.
The MegaFill pump is a mobile water pump with two booms and, when folded, the booms can unfold and rotate away from the pump if not properly secured.
Diverse engaged trucking company RGR Road Haulage to transport the pump back to Perth. It was demobilised without Diverse Management workers, using incorrect procedures, creating a risk that the boom could rotate during transport according to the LGIRSD.
Neither Resource Operations nor Diverse ensured that the operating procedure was provided to the workers or that the pump was demobilised according to the operating procedure, the LGIRSD reported.
After the incident, Technologies International Group designed a new restraint system that removed the risk of the boom being inadequately restrained during transport.
Resource Operations and Maintenance Services and Diverse Management Services were each fined $160,000 for their part in the resulting incident, while Technologies International Group was fined $450,000 for its part.
RGR Road Haulage has also pled guilty to a separate charge but is yet to be sentenced.