Mining companies charged over fatal rockfall
WorkSafe Victoria has charged the operator of Ballarat gold mine and a mining services company after a worker died and another suffered life-threatening injuries in March 2024.
Victory Minerals and Carr Mining Services each face two charges for failing to provide or maintain a safe working environment.
The collapse occurred on March 13, 2024, killing Kurt Hourigan and seriously injuring Connor Smith.
Workers were performing ‘air legging’, a potentially dangerous manual drilling technique on unsupported ground when the rockfall occurred.
WorkSafe Victoria alleges both companies failed to provide a safe system of work that required ground support to be installed in the section of the mine where the air leg mining works were occurring.
It is further alleged both companies failed to supervise workers to ensure adequate ground supports were installed in the section of the mine during its development.
In 2023, a geotechnical engineer warned mine management that reintroducing air legging without adequate ground support could lead to rockfall-related injuries.
An internal memo from the mine’s previous operator declared the “globally accepted standard that ‘we don’t work under unsupported ground'” was “dated,” citing cost concerns as the reason for abandoning basic safety measures, according to the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU).
The AWU believe that WorkSafe Victoria has the evidence and the tools to pursue industrial manslaughter charges.
“We welcome these charges as an important first step, but section 21 prosecutions alone are not enough when a worker is killed due to clear negligence,” AWU Victorian branch secretary Ronnie Hayden said.
“We believe the evidence shows warnings were ignored and safety standards were abandoned just to save a dollar.”
The matters are listed for a filing hearing at Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on December 18, 2025.