Tributes and condolences are pouring in for the man who passed away at a Mineral Resources’ Onslow Iron project, as his identity is released.
Kieren McDowall passed away on June 12 after an incident occurred at Min Res’ Ken’s Bore site. As reported by the ABC, McDowall was a contractor for AAA Asphalt Surfaces.
AAA Asphalt Surfaces managing director Frank Italiano told the ABC that he felt “profound sadness” at losing his colleague.
“I extend my deepest condolences to Kieren’s family and friends; in particular his partner Bella, their two young children, his parents Kylie and Craig, brothers Matthew, Jayden and Hamish and extended family,” Italiano said.
Italiano said his immediate priority is to support Kieren’s family and the extended AAA family during this difficult time, and that AAA Asphalt Surfaces will work alongside authorities as they investigate the incident.
The ABC reported that inspectors from the Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety travelled to the site on June 13, and the WA Police have described the death as non-suspicious.
The Onslow Iron project is located 150 kilometres east of Onslow and it is expected to ship around 35 million tonnes of iron ore per year and is set to be one of WA’s largest iron ore operations.
McDowall’s death is the fourth fatality in the WA mining industry since October 2022.