Big Bell Gold mine fined $945,000 over death of worker Paige Counsell
Paige Counsell died after being hit by a truck during a night shift at the mine, north-west of Cue, in December 2020.
Deputy Chief Magistrate, Elizabeth Woods, said there was a "failure of policy, process and training."
She said there were "minimal safe areas for pedestrians and vehicle to interact" and the "key safety message" had not been grasped by drivers.
The company "must constantly be on the lookout for problems", but "the training was ineffective, the consequences were serious," Magistrate Woods told the court.
"The training was not specific enough," she said.
The magistrate noted that the company had expressed remorse.
She fined Big Bell Gold, which pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace, $945,000, and ordered it to pay costs of $20,000.
Paige's mother, Samantha, and brother, Blake, were in court for the sentencing and spoke to the ABC afterwards.
"Nothing's going to bring her back," Ms Counsell said.
Ms Counsell said she was grateful the company had pleaded guilty, meaning a trial was not required, but said it was "galling" that the fine would likely simply go into government coffers.
Ms Counsell described Big Bell's parent company, Westgold, as "fantastic" through its support for the family after the tragedy.
In a statement, Westgold's managing director and chief executive Wayne Bramwell said the company had worked closely with regulators and various authorities during the investigations, and had done its own review of its Occupational Health and Safety management plan.
Mr Bramwell said he had met with Ms Counsell recently and assured her that her daughter's memory would continue to be honoured.
He said a stone memorial at Big Bell stood as a reminder to remain vigilant for safety.
The Department of Mines brought the prosecution in 2023.
Worksafe said the offence did not indicate that the breach caused the fatal incident, but it highlighted a failure in terms of safe systems.
But WA Work Safe Commissioner Sally North said the case sent a strong message to workplaces, particularly those with mobile plant.
"Big Bell Gold Operations failed to provide its contractor's employees involved in the fatal incident with sufficient information, instructions and training to ensure positive communication was established between pedestrians and drivers underground," she said.
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