A company has been fined over a fatal 2019 NT mine incident. 

The Darwin local court has imposed a fine of $487,500 on OM (Manganese) Ltd, following their conviction for the 2019 workplace fatality of a 59-year-old Mine Superintendent at Bootu Creek Mine. 

The company pleaded guilty to consolidated charges for failing to ensure worker safety.

In August 2019, the Mine Superintendent conducted an assessment in the open cut pit after reports of sediment slipping from the wall. At this time, a wall section collapsed, burying the worker.

The Northern Territory’s Work Health and Safety Regulator, Peggy Cheong, says this incident could have been prevented had the company followed safety recommendations from specialist consultants. 

OM (Manganese) Ltd was also ordered to pay a victims levy of $1,000 and NT WorkSafe costs of $193,000.

Charges initially laid against the mine’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr Trevor Cook, were withdrawn.

The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure worker safety, accepting full responsibility for the incident. Workers had reported signs of instability in the days leading up to the accident, but safety recommendations were ignored.

The court recognised the company's remorse and early guilty plea, resulting in a 25 per cent discount on the fine. 

While mining operations at Bootu Creek ceased in 2021, OM Manganese says it has taken steps to improve safety systems in line with expert advice.