Freak weather event bursts a tyre and causes minor injuries at BHP’s Mt Whaleback iron ore mine in WA’s north

Six BHP workers required medical treatment for minor injuries after a freak lightning strike caused a mining dump truck’s tyre to explode and damage buildings being 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. The West Australian understands six people inside a nearby crib room and office had first aid treatment on site following the freak incident, but nobody needed to go to hospital and all six workers are now back on shift. The minor injuries were caused by the shock wave from the tyre explosion springing a door open and dislodging an air conditioner and television off 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. Tropical cyclone Sean has wreaked havoc on mining operations in WA’s north over the past fortnight. A torrential downpour recently knocked out a crucial piece of Rio Tinto infrastructure for up to a month, impacting the mining giant’s Pilbara iron ore output for the quarter. Rio Tinto on Friday said the record deluge brought by the tropical cyclone had flooded a railcar dumper — a piece of equipment that transfers tonnes of ore from rail cars on locomotives to ships for ready export at its East Intercourse Island port facility. That particular port facility shipped about 45 million tonnes of iron ore for the miner in calendar year 2024, representing more than 13 per cent of the 328.6mt Rio produced during the period. Rio has estimated the dumper — one of seven out across Rio’s two Dampier and Cape Lambert ports — will be out action for between three and four weeks. “Assessments are ongoing. Initial indications suggest the dumper at EII could be offline for three to four weeks, as rectifications works are required to repair flood damage,” Rio said on Friday.