Rio Tinto re-opens pit at Tom Price mining hub after ‘toxic gas’ alert

Mining giant Rio Tinto was forced to shut down an open pit operation at its Tom Price mining hub in the Pilbara after workers were exposed to “toxic gas”, it has been reported.

At least three workers were taken to hospital for assessment in separate incidents in September and October when gas was released from the deposit, The Australian reported.

Department of Mines and Petroleum’s director of mine safety Andrew Chaplyn told the paper the miner was ordered to temporarily close the pit — one of 14 in the Tom Price hub — on October 21 because the gas was feared to contain sulphur dioxide.

The Australian said a prohibition notice issued to Rio had cited repeated breaches of improvement notices issued after workers reported exposure to the gas a month earlier. Rio had been told to improve monitoring and safety procedures.

“Operations have resumed,” a Rio spokesman told the paper. “Work in the affected pit was temporarily suspended as a range of additional safety controls were implemented and existing work procedures were reviewed.

“Following the recent incidents, we have reviewed safety controls for anyone working in reactive black shale areas. As part of the response, we have implemented static gas monitoring posts around the affected pit which provide additional verification that gas levels are below the action level.”

Rio has now meet conditions and safety inspectors had given the all clear for work to restart.