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Rio Tinto to face prosecution after worker injury

The NSW Department of Industry’s Resources Regulator will begin prosecution proceedings against Rio Tinto Coal (NSW) following a serious worker injury at the Mt Thorley Warkworth mine.
The worker sustained serious spinal injuries when he fell from the grader’s hydraulic powered access ladder when it unexpectedly moved and began to rise at the mine, south west of Singleton, in October 2014.
The Regulator will allege the company breached theWork Health and Safety Act 2011 by failing to take reasonable steps to reduce the worker’s risk of falling off the ladder, including failure to take appropriate action to prevent the ladder system unintentionally moving.
A Rio Tinto spokesperson told Australian Mining, The safety of our people is our single most important priority and we are committed to working hard every day to create an injury free workplace.”

After any safety incident, our focus is always on learning lessons for the future and removing and managing risks to our people. That includes in this case.”

The Regulator has begun Category 2 Work Health and Safety proceedings under the Act for failure to comply with a health and safety duty.
The case is due in the District Court on November 21.

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