FLAWED assumptions and a failure to address previous rockfalls resulted in the death of a worker at the Beaconsfield gold mine in 2006, a court has heard.
Larry Knight was killed and two other workers were trapped when a rockfall caused the Tasmanian mine to collapse in October 2006. The incident has been followed by a long-running inquest to investigate the accident.
In final submissions to the inquest, coroner, Michael O’Farrell, concluded it was up to Allstate Explorations and manager Matthew Gill to fully assess risks which could cause injury or death.
O’Farrell concluded increased levels of seismicity, underground rockfalls and other adverse ground conditions indicated the mine was susceptible to collapse.
The court heard that while managers attempted to address many of the issues surrounding the rockfalls, problems were not sufficiently addressed.
“A properly functioning OH&S department could have ensured compliance with the matters required to be addressed by mining managers,” he said.
The inquest is now drawing to a close and is expected to be completed by December 2009.
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