Fatal Accident at Dampier Iron Ore Port
The death of an employee has resulted in a halt in export operations for Rio Tinto from one of its terminals in Dampier iron ore port.
The contract worker was an employee of Celtic Scaffolding. He was carrying out maintenance at the East Intercourse Island when he fell into the water and was killed.
The Mines Department and the police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the accident which occurred at midday on Saturday. Initial attempts made to trace the man were unsuccessful and he is feared dead. According to witnesses the scaffolding crashed and they saw a hard hat floating in the water. This is the first fatal accident that Rio Tinto has seen in the Pilbara region since August 2003.
The accident has resulted in one of the three wharves at the Dampier port in Western Australia seeing operations ceased. The wharf in question is located at East Intercourse Island. It is one of three jetties that are used to load iron ore shipments by the company. The wharf accounts for about a third of the 145 million tonnes the company exports from Dampier each year.
Written by
Joel relocated to Australia in 1995 from the United Kingdom and spent five years working in the mining industry as an exploration geotechnician. His role involved utilizing GIS mapping and CAD software. Upon transitioning to the North Coast of NSW, Australia, Joel embarked on a career as a graphic designer at a well-known consultancy firm. Subsequently, he established a successful web services business catering to companies across the eastern seaboard of Australia. It was during this time that he conceived and launched News-Medical.Net. Joel has been an integral part of AZoNetwork since its inception in 2000. Joel possesses a keen interest in exploring the boundaries of technology, comprehending its potential impact on society, and actively engaging with AI-driven solutions and advancements.
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
APA
Scanlon, Joel. (2019, March 19). Fatal Accident at Dampier Iron Ore Port. AZoMining. Retrieved on February 02, 2026 from https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=4207.
MLA
Scanlon, Joel. "Fatal Accident at Dampier Iron Ore Port". AZoMining. 02 February 2026. <https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=4207>.
Chicago
Scanlon, Joel. "Fatal Accident at Dampier Iron Ore Port". AZoMining. https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=4207. (accessed February 02, 2026).
Harvard
Scanlon, Joel. 2019. Fatal Accident at Dampier Iron Ore Port. AZoMining, viewed 02 February 2026, https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=4207.
We're committed to providing free access to quality science. By registering and providing insight into
your preferences you're joining a community of over 1m science interested individuals and help us to
provide you with insightful content whilst keeping our service free.
or
Terms
While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena
answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses.
Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or
authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for
medical information you must always consult a medical
professional before acting on any information provided.
Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with
OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their
privacy principles.
Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential
information.
Read the full Terms & Conditions.