WA Police and Worksafe WA are investigating the sudden death of a Perth truck driver allegedly exposed to highly toxic chemicals while at work.
The Coogee Chemicals truckie was found dead in the cab of his truck on Friday, August 16, near the Wheatbelt town of Pithara, about 240km north of Perth.
“Coogee is deeply saddened by the passing of one of its valued drivers and member of our tight-knit WA Transport Group during the normal course of their duties,” a company spokesperson told Big Rigs in a statement.
“Our heartfelt sympathy and condolences have been extended to our employee’s family, friends, and colleagues – we all feel for their loss at this time.”
The spokesperson added that the company had contacted WA Police on the morning of August 16 when they could not speak with the truckie by mobile or satellite phone and the truck’s GPS had not been activated.
WA police located the truck at its last known GPS location at about 10am on August 16.
It was parked in a truck bay approximately 16km from the Great Northern Highway/Northam-Pithara Road intersection. The employee was sadly deceased.
“Our driver had completed their last delivery of chemicals on August 14,” the Coogee Chemicals spokesperson said.
“At that time the employee came into contact with other chemicals. The incident was self-reported and the mine site [Thunderbox] provided medical care and the driver was subsequently declared fit for work.”
A spokesperson for Northern Star Resources, the owners of the Thunderbox mine, said the truckie was on site on August 14 as part of a routine delivery of chemicals.
“During the delivery of his cargo, the worker came into contact with other chemicals and suffered minor burns. He self-reported the incident immediately,” the spokesperson said.
“In line with Northen Star’s safety incident procedures, the worker was provided with immediate medical care including a consultation with a doctor, following which he was declared fit for work and continued to be monitored by our medical team.
“A medical check-up and follow-up consultation with a doctor early the next morning on August 15 again cleared him fit for work and he was allowed to drive off site.
“In line with our procedures, the Thunderbox medical team phoned the worker late afternoon on August 15 and had no concerns.”
A WorkSafe WA spokesperson confirmed to Big Rigs that an investigation is now underway, with a view to ensuring compliance and preventing future incidents of a similar nature.
“At present, WorkSafe is awaiting further evidence from the coroner in relation to the work relatedness of the incident.”
Although police are also investigating, the Coogee Chemicals spokesperson understands the incident is not being treated as suspicious.
The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) has also been notified of the driver’s death.
The WA branch of the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) said it is demanding answers and is calling on WorkSafe and the coroner for a full inquiry.
“The company and mine site had a duty of care to this worker, and the TWU would expect a full investigation from WorkSafe and the coroner about how this incident occurred,” said WA state secretary Tim Dawson.
“How the driver was medically assessed and was ever allowed to drive away from the mine site after exposure to the chemical. This must be thoroughly examined to ensure that a tragic incident like this one never occurs again and that every other road user is safe.”
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