BHP to restart Nelson Point operations

BHP Billiton Ltd is expected to restart rail and port activities at its Nelson Point operation shortly after a 52 year old employee was killed on site yesterday.

A company spokesperson said activities would undergo a progressive restart today following the death of Andrew McLaughlin at 11am yesterday.

Mr McLaughlin was killed while performing maintenance work under the platform of a scissor lift in the locomotive workshop.

BHP had suspended its Nelsons Point iron ore crushing and shipping facilities at the port following the death, and had also stopped transporting ore along the 426km railway line from the inland town of Newman to Port Hedland.

The line hauls iron ore from several BHP Billiton mines including Mt Whaleback, Jimblebar, Mining Area C and Yandi, and carries more than 120,000 tonnes of iron ore each day.

Worksafe is investigating and BHP Billiton is conducting an internal investigation into the matter.

The spokesperson said it had offered counseling to all its workers.