Evolution Mining (Mungari) Pty Ltd has been fined $200,000 in costs over an incident in which a worker for a contractor suffered a crush injury and a fractured left humerus.
Mine operator Evolution Mining (Mungari) Pty Ltd has been fined $200,000 and ordered to pay $15,392.20 in costs by the Perth Magistrates Court over an incident in which a worker for a contractor suffered a crush injury and a fractured left humerus.
In the incident on 17 April 2022, the MLG Oz Limited worker became entangled in a stacker conveyor at the Mungari gold mine near Kalgoorlie.
Evolution Mining pleaded guilty to contravening sections 19(1) and 32(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (the Act). The company failed to comply with a health and safety duty, exposing a worker to a risk of injury or harm to health. The prosecution did not allege that Evolution’s failure caused the worker’s injuries.
The incident occurred at the Mungari Gold Operations site of the East Kundana Joint Venture. At the time, Evolution Mining operated the mine and acted as the principal employer at the site, about 20km west of Kalgoorlie.
The MLG Oz heavy diesel mechanic was conducting maintenance on a mobile stacker that transported fine tailings material to the underground paste plant. The worker tried to clear a build-up of material from the adjusters of the belt of the stacker by reaching through an unguarded side access port while the stacker was operating. The sleeve of the worker’s overalls caught in a nip point at the tail drum, pulling the worker’s arm into the machinery and causing injuries.
The Code of Practice: Safeguarding of Machinery and Plant 2009 identifies conveyors as posing an entanglement risk and states that workers should use isolation procedures to de-energise plant when carrying out cleaning tasks.
On 16 December 2025 , mining services company MLG Oz was fined $750,000 and ordered to pay costs by the Perth Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to an offence of causing serious harm to a worker under the Act arising from the same incident.
WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said the prosecution highlighted the importance of mine operators identifying hazards and ensuring appropriate systems are in place to manage those risks.
“Conveyors are a well-known source of entanglement hazards, and the risks associated with working on or near operating machinery have long been understood across the mining industry,” Ms North said.
“Mine operators and contractors must work together to identify hazards, assess risks and implement effective controls.
“Where maintenance tasks involve machinery with moving parts, duty holders must enforce appropriate procedures and controls to eliminate or minimise the risk of entanglement.
“This case is a reminder that exposing workers to the risk of injury is unacceptable, and WorkSafe will continue to take enforcement action when duty holders fail to meet their obligations.”
Following the incident, Evolution Mining clarified supervision responsibility arrangements at the site, and MLG Oz removed the stacker from service.
WorkSafe is a division of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS). WorkSafe’s website houses guidance, including information on the safe use of plant, machinery and equipment .
