Union seeks WA mine access after man's death

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/13/2137251.htm?section=australia

The CFMEU wants access to a Western Australian mine it says has major safety issues, after a 26-year-old man was crushed to death.

Fortescue Metals Group and construction company United Group Resources have launched a joint inquiry into the death.

CFMEU spokesman Joe McDonald says workers raised 82 safety issues about the Cloudbreak mine near Newman two months ago, but union officials are not allowed on to the site to inspect it because of the AWAs signed by the workers.

"If he's got nothing to hide then he should open up the gates and he should welcome us in there and we should work together to make sure workers go home safely at night," he said.

Chamber of Minerals and Energy spokeswoman Nicole Roocke says the incident has highlighted that safety on mine sites must be a priority.

"Companies needs a risk management system to help them identify where things can go wrong and what they need to do to fix those," she said.

WorkSafe is also investigating the death.