WorkSafe investigates shovel fire at Kalgoorlie Super Pit
WorkSafe WA is investigating a workplace incident at one of Australia's biggest gold mines, where the operator of a heavy-duty $18 million mining shovel escaped a fire that engulfed the driver's cab.
On September 9, a fire devastated a large mining shovel at Kalgoorlie's Super Pit gold mine, though no one was injured. The heavy-duty shovel, a 750-tonne Komatsu PC8000, was operating in the Oroya Brownhill section when the blaze engulfed its driver's cab. The incident occurred during the night shift. Northern Star Resources, the mine's owner, confirmed no personnel were harmed during the fire.
WorkSafe WA, the safety regulator, is investigating the cause of the fire, alongside Northern Star Resources. The excavator's estimated replacement cost is $18 million. KCGM, the mine operator, has initiated contingency plans and is assessing the incident to improve processes and maintain safe operations. The damaged machine is one of four PC8000 shovels in the Super Pit's fleet.
The fire follows Northern Star's display of a retired PC8000 at the mine's public lookout, which attracts many visitors. The Super Pit employs over 1,200 workers and has seen 600 contractors working on a $1.7 billion expansion of the nearby Fimiston Mill. This expansion is expected to boost the mine's annual gold production from 480,429 ounces to 900,000 ounces starting in 2028.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
