John Holland has been fined the maximum of $242,000 after a worker fell to their death at BHP Biliton’s Mt Whaleback mine 2 years ago.

 

The Federal Court ruled that BHP Biliton had failed to adhere to the health and safety regulations which caused Wayne Moore, 45, to step on an unsecured sheet of grid mesh and fall 10 meters to their death in 2009.

 

Comcare, the federal safety regulator who prosecuted John Holland, also insisted the company enforce better safety practices in their operations across Australia.

 

General manager Neil Quarmby said, Employers need to look more closely at near misses," he said.

 

"Comcare inspectors found there had been two incidents involving unsecured grid mesh at this workplace in the weeks leading up to the fatality.”