The company elects to gradually resume its operations in recognition of the distress caused to the Big Bell workforce, as a worker passed away on Tuesday after sustaining a strike injury caused by a mobile plant.

Westgold stated that the employee was a valued member of its mining services subsidiary company Minterra.

Minterra, Westgold and the Big Bell team have decided to slowly ease back operations to allow all employees and contractors to receive counselling.

This follows preliminary investigations by the Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS), which cleared the site to resume mining activities.

“Westgold is engaged with (the victim’s) family to ensure they are supported throughout this difficult time. The company again expresses its deepest sympathy to (her) family, friends and colleagues,” Westgold stated.

“The safety and wellbeing of our workforce is always Westgold’s first priority. Westgold is continuing to work closely with DMIRS in order to finalise the investigation into the incident, the resolution of which may take some time.

“The company affirms its commitment to ensuring that risks are identified and managed in order to provide a safe working environment.”

Westgold expects operations to progressively return to normal capacity in the next few weeks.