Paul Parolo, 75, Identified as Worker Killed at Regis Duketon Gold Mine
Paul Parolo, a 75-year-old electrician and instrument fitter, died at Regis Resources' Duketon gold mine in Western Australia on Friday. Regis said operations have resumed except at the Rosemont process plant, and WorkSafe is investigating.
Paul Parolo, a 75-year-old electrician and instrument fitter, was the worker killed at Regis Resources' Duketon gold mine in Western Australia's Goldfields region on Friday afternoon. His identity as the grandfather killed in the mine incident emerged after Regis updated the stock market on Monday.
Sources said the accident involved a heavy object falling from a truck. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the cause.
Regis restarts most of Duketon
Regis told the ASX, the Australian stock exchange, that it suspended all Duketon operations immediately after the incident. It has since restarted them in stages under the site's incident recovery plan.
All operations except the Rosemont process plant, where the incident occurred, have now resumed. The plant remains shut.
"We are working closely with WorkSafe and other relevant authorities, as they carry out their investigation to understand what happened," Regis stated. WorkSafe is the state workplace safety regulator.
WA Police was also called to the scene. It is preparing a report for the coroner.
Family and colleagues react
Mr Parolo, who lived in Southern River, was remembered in a social media post as a "loving husband, proud father and doting grandfather". The post said: "He loved the mining life, the beauty of the bush the dingoes, bungarras and spectacular sunsets."
Regis chief executive Jim Beyer said Mr Parolo's colleagues were "devastated".
"Our deepest heartfelt sympathy is with the family and with everyone who knew and worked alongside him," Mr Beyer said. "We remain committed to supporting everyone affected through this extremely difficult time."
Second WA mining death this year
Mr Parolo is the second person to die in a work-related accident at a WA mining or refining operation this year.
Simon Mukwarami was working as a boilermaker on a digester at South32's Worsley Alumina refinery near Collie. He fell through a grid mesh walkway to his death in the early hours of March 14.
In a leaked document, a WorkSafe inspector said South32 had "no controls" in place "to prevent a fall".
WorkSafe's investigation into the Duketon death is continuing, and police are still preparing their report for the coroner.
