Tragic death at CQ mine
CENTRAL Queensland mining union officials have declared the mining collapse which claimed the life of a 60-year-old man and trapped another man in the rubble for four hours at an Emerald mine as an “absolute tragedy”.
The CFMEU, along with many other politicians, have demanded there be a full investigation into the devastating incident.
Emergency services were called to the Sojitz Gregory Crinum Coal Mine on Lilyvale Road near Emerald about midnight.
Workers were undertaking roof support works when the roof collapsed and a section of wall and ceiling fell. Paramedics assessed a 60-year-old man for critical injuries, however he died at the scene. His family has been notified of his death.
A second person, a 25-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his legs and pelvis and was trapped underground for more than four hours before emergency services were able to pull him out.
He was flown to Rockhampton
Hospital by RACQ Caprescue in a serious but stable condition.
A Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman confirmed the man was in a stable condition at Rockhampton Hospital on Wednesday morning.
A third person was taken to Emerald Hospital in a stable condition following a medical event. He has since been released.
CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland president Stephen Smyth said his condolences and thoughts went out to the family and friends of the deceased and injured miners. “It sends a ripple effect throughout the industry,” Mr Smyth said on Wednesday.
The latest tragedy comes 18 months after the last mine fatality on January 12, 2020 when tyre fitter Donald Rabbitt died after he was trapped under a piece of heavy machinery at Curragh Coal Mine, near Blackwater.
“We’ve had a period where we haven’t faced loss of life,” Mr Smyth said, however acknowledging five workers were injured in the Grosvenor mine disaster on May 6, 2020.
Mr Smyth said “everyone feels it” when it comes to mine incidents.
“People go to o work to work k not to die in any y industry,” he said. d
“Not to return home is an absolutely tragedy. The workplace shouldn’t be like that.”
Mr Smyth said the matter was currently under investigation and he hoped “to know a bit more in the coming days”.
Resources Minister Scott Stewart said early investigations suggested a rockfall from the roof of the mine caused the disaster.
He praised the “professionalism” of Queensland Mines Rescue Service and emergency services in responding to the incident.
Mines inspectors arrived on site early on Wednesday morning and were now investigating the “nature and cause of the incident”.
“Any loss of life on our mine sites is unacceptable, and it is my expectation the Queensland Mines Inspectorate and Resources Safety and Health Queensland will investigate this incident thoroughly and with diligence,” Mr Stewart said.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences … to the family, friends, and co-workers of the man who has passed away, and I hope for a full and speedy recovery for the man who was injured.”
Work had only begun at the mine this year after it had been mothballed in January 2016.
The miners were undertaking maintenance and remedial works to bring the mine back up to standard to begin coal production again.
It is understood they were doing roof support works and a roof fall in the conveyor drift occurred.
The drift runs from the surface down into the coal mine as the conveyor belt comes out of the coal mine onto the surface.
Operations at the mine have been suspended until further notice. The incident also caused a power outage across the road at the Kestrel Coal Mine wash plant.
The power was out from 11.44pm to 1.27am due to the automatic network protection system.
The Gregory Crinum Coal Mine is located about 60km north east of Emerald, and is a hard coking coal operation.