Two mining contractors and a mine operator have been charged over the deaths of two workers in separate mine site incidents in regional WA.

A 59-year-old man was killed at the Karlawinda gold mine in the Pilbara in October 2022, just days after the death of a 37-year-old man in a separate incident at the St Ives underground mine near the Goldfields town of Kambalda.

Worksafe WA has started legal action against three companies over the death of the two men.

The 59-year-old man, who was employed by contractor MACA Mining Pty Ltd, died after a dump truck allegedly hit the utility vehicle he was parked in at the gold mine, 65 kilometres south-east of Newman.

MACA Mining and mine operator Greenmount Resources Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Capricorn Metals, has been charged with failing to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers while at work, resulting in the death of a worker.

Three days prior, a 37-year-old man employed by RUC Mining Contractors Pty Ltd died at the St Ives Underground Mine near Kambalda.

Worksafe alleges two employees were working at the bottom of a ventilation shaft when one was fatally struck by falling rocks and the other knocked to the ground.

RUC Mining Contractors Pty Ltd has been charged with failing to ensure the health and safety of workers and, by that failure, causing the death of one worker and exposing another worker to the risk of death, injury or harm.

The Redpath Group acquired RUC Mining Contractors Pty Ltd in May of this year.

First prosecutions under new laws

Under WA's Work Health and Safety laws, which came into effect in March 2022, the maximum penalty for causing death is $3.5 million while the maximum penalty for the exposure to risk of death, injury or harm is $1.8 million.

RUC Mining Contractors Pty Ltd and Greenmount Resources Pty Ltd have been contacted for comment. 

MACA Mining Pty Ltd said it could not provide comment as the matter was before the courts. 

RUC Mining Contractors Pty Ltd will face Kalgoorlie Magistrates court next month while the matter involving MACA Mining Pty Ltd will be heard in Newman Magistrates Court in December.