Robin Chapple MLC
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region
MEDIA RELEASE
BHP BILLITON IRON ORE FATALITY – GREENS MPs CALL FOR IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENT OF EMPLOYEES INSPECTOR, PORT HEDLAND
7th July 2011
Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple is saddened to learn about the death last night of a BHP Billiton Iron Ore worker in Port Hedland.
“I am appalled that, after all the assurances I have received from BHP Billiton executives in recent years, once again a worker has lost his life,” Mr Chapple said.
“Guarantees were provided to me that there was now a new culture of Occupational Health and Safety within the company but this clearly is not the case.
“Every worker has the right to go home at the end of the day, this industry must stop killing its workers.
Mr Chapple expressed his condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of the deceased man.
“The much vaunted mining industry has again claimed a life,” Mr Chapple said.
“This is totally unacceptable and I want to see immediate action from both Government regulators and the company to put an end to these needless deaths.
“In Port Hedland and elsewhere in the Pilbara there are no Employees Inspectors, as there are in the Goldfields and Collie. This must be immediately rectified,” Mr Chapple said.
Mr Chapple has requested BHP Billiton provide a full briefing about the incident.
“The company’s port and rail operations must remain suspended until the incident has been thoroughly investigated and safeguards have been put in place to prevent such an incident from ever occurring again,” Mr Chapple said.
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 9486 8255
All the best
Robin Chapple MLC
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region
PO Box 94, West Perth WA 6872
41 Havelock Street, West Perth. WA 6005
Phone: (08) 9486 8255 | Email: Robin.Chapple | Freecall: 1800 138 610
July 7, 2011
tony serve
