BHP Workers Treated After Lightning Strike at Mount Whaleback Mine
Six BHP workers sustained minor injuries from a lightning-induced tyre explosion at Mount Whaleback mine, but all returned to work after treatment on site.
Six BHP workers required medical treatment for minor injuries after a freak lightning strike caused a mining dump truck's tyre to explode, damaging buildings used as shelter.
A lightning bolt blew a dump truck's tyre off its rim at BHP's Mount Whaleback iron ore mine near Newman on Saturday.
It's understood six people inside a nearby crib room and office received first aid treatment on site following the incident, but nobody needed to go to hospital. All six workers are now back on shift.
The minor injuries were caused by the shock wave from the tyre explosion that sprung a door open and dislodged an air conditioner and television from their wall mounts.
The driver of the dump truck took shelter in the heavy-duty vehicle and was not injured.
Mount Whaleback was under a "red alert" lightning storm status at the time of the lightning strike, meaning all workers had to be undercover.
"Our team members followed thorough safety precautions through this unique weather event and, most importantly, everyone impacted is safe and well after being treated on site," a BHP spokesman told The West Australian.
The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety is currently investigating the incident.
