Newmont Mining is facing a lawsuit filed by former group executive of safety, Rebecca Perrett, who alleges her concerns regarding site safety at various global operations were dismissed, prioritising profitability over safety.
According to court filings, Perrett, who served from 2019 to October 2023, claims she identified underreporting of significant safety incidents at sites in Western Australia, Mexico, and Canada.
Perrett's legal case, filed in the Federal Court, alleges she was unfairly dismissed in October 2023 after raising safety concerns, which included reducing site inspections and Fatality Risk Management (FRM) reviews. “The reduction reflected poor leadership and gave the appearance that [Newmont] was prioritising operational profitability over safety improvements,” Perrett said.
Newmont has denied the allegations, with a spokesperson saying, “Newmont disputes the allegations raised by Ms Perrett and intends to vigorously defend itself.”
The company insists its actions were lawful regarding Perrett's employment and its safety programs.
Perrett also claims that performance assessment criteria at Newmont contributed to underreporting safety incidents. Newmont acknowledged some of Perrett's reports but refuted claims of negligence or inadequate leadership.
The case remains ongoing, with Newmont maintaining that its site inspection frequency aligns with industry norms.