WorkSafe admits internal review into how it handles complaints after warnings before mine death were exposed

WA’s safety regulator has conceded its internal processes need to change in the wake of explosive revelations about the State’s most recent mining death. The West Australian on August 26 revealed that a former supervisor at the Wiluna West iron ore project implored WorkSafe to investigate the mining operation just two months before it became the site of 32-year-old Kyle Stanley’s death on August 20. Mr Stanley was crushed to death while working on a bogged truck at the C4 mine deposit. WorkSafe stated it had investigated the supervisor’s written complaint in May and took “enforcement action”, but has declined to divulge what this action entailed. The supervisor, and another whistleblower who lodged a separate complaint about the site to WorkSafe in May, have told The West they believe their concerns raised with the safety regulator were not taken as seriously as they should have been. WorkSafe was asked if The West’s bombshell about the whistleblower warnings leading up to Mr Stanley’s death at Wiluna West had sparked an internal review of its complaint-handling processes. The suggestion of a specific review linked to the Wiluna West saga was batted away by WorkSafe. A spokesman said the regulator “routinely reviews its processes and procedures”. But Minister for Industrial Relations Simone McGurk said she asked WorkSafe to “examine if their operational processes in regards to incoming complaints about worksites need to be tightened”, specifically in light of the Wiluna West revelations. A WorkSafe spokesman then conceded that while a review into the Wiluna West “incident” was ongoing, the regulator “has already tightened communications processes in its operational area“. “Particularly with regards to incoming complaints,” he said. But the spokesman declined to disclose details of how exactly WorkSafe’s communications processes have been “tightened”. Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA director of policy and advocacy Anita Logiudice called for more funds to be allocated to WorkSafe. “The resources sector makes a significant financial contribution to WorkSafe’s capacity through the Mines Safety Levy and Petroleum Levy and has consistently advocated for increased transparency over the collection and allocation of levy funds,” she told The West. “Surplus funds remain within the Mines Safety Levy special purpose account, and CME maintains that these resources should be reinvested in the sector to enhance understanding of work health and safety laws and support improved health and safety outcomes in the mining industry. “These investments should prioritise the capability and consistency of WorkSafe’s specialised inspectorate and the development of fit-for-purpose codes of practice, guidance materials and other initiatives, including those under the Mental Awareness Respect and Safety program.” The Wiluna West iron ore project is owned by Gold Valley Group and located in the Goldfields about 30km west of Wiluna and 155km east of Meekatharra. Mr Stanley’s death at Wiluna West marked the first work-related fatality on a WA mine site since December last year. Mr Stanley was employed by Belmont-based specialised labour hire firm Premium Mechanical Group, which specialises in repairing heavy machinery and vehicles at mines across WA.