Fine after electrician burnt at WA mine
A company has been fined $60,000 after a worker suffered serious burns in an electrical accident at an Atlas Iron mine in WA's Pilbara region.
Crushing Services International electrician Daniel Blaess was replacing components in a switch room at the Wodgina mine in in November 2013 when he was injured in an arc flash.
CSI pleaded guilty to exposing an employee to a hazard and was sentenced in South Hedland Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Department of Mines and Petroleum mines safety director Andrew Chaplyn said the company had failed to ensure electrical equipment under its control was adequately maintained.
"The electrical equipment cubicle had no barrier preventing contact with live terminals and Mr Blaess was exposed to live electrical conductors," Mr Chaplyn said.
"This incident had the potential to kill."
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