BHP Billiton fined

BHP Billiton Ltd has been fined $200,000 after admitting to negligence that led to a fatal gas explosion at its iron plant in Western Australia's north.

Five men were doing maintenance work on a closed section of the Boodarie Iron hot briquette iron plant near Port Hedland when an explosion occurred just before midnight on 19 May 2004.

One worker was killed in the blast and three other men suffered serious burns. The fifth man received minor injuries.

BHP on Tuesday pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrate's Court to three counts of failing to ensure a safe working environment causing death or serious harm to Wadley, Holden and Black.

Prosecutors dropped a fourth count relating to Westover.

The precise cause of the explosion is not known, but the company's decision to simultaneously conduct two cleaning processes, drilling and hydro-blasting of reactor components called diplegs seriously increased the chances of an explosive reaction, the court was told.

The reactor's ventilation system was also flawed, prosecutor Robert Mitchell said.

The company accepted full responsibility for the blast. The plant, built in the mid-1990s, has been closed.