Rescuers may scour quarry remotely

Remote-controlled excavators are likely to be used to search for a digger operator buried in a quarry landslide.

The man is feared dead after about 100 tonnes of rubble came down about 10.40am at the Heathstock Haulage lime quarry on Limeworks Rd, near Waikari in north Canterbury.

Quarry staff, Waikari volunteer firefighters and local police officers initially attempted to find the man in the rubble, but the instability of the quarry face meant the site had to be evacuated, Inspector Corrie Parnell said.

He said there was further subsidence when the man’s colleagues attempted to free the 65-tonne excavator from the rubble. At the time of the accident six people were working in the quarry. Attempts were made to contact the trapped man, but he had not responded.

Safety concerns made the rescue operation ‘‘untenable’’ and searchers temporarily suspended the search late on Monday.

A further 25 specialists, including geotechnical specialists, representatives from Mines Rescue, WorkSafe NZ and search and rescue personnel from police and Alpine Cliff Rescue were assessing the next stage of the operation.

It was expected rescuers would work through Monday night and continue until the digger was extracted, Parnell said. The main boom arm of the buried digger was visible.

Police were considering using remote-controlled excavators.

‘‘At this stage I would reiterate this is a rescue operation and Canterbury police and Victim Support are working with and supporting the man’s family who are understandably upset and worried,’’ Parnell said.

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly was angered by the incident. Two quarry workers were killed in March and April, sparking calls to include quarries under health and safety reforms.

Kelly said many quarry accidents in the last year were because of careless health and safety policy decisions.

Health and safety laws in mining were strengthened in 2013, following recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Pike River Mine disaster, but after lobbying from industry, the government exempted quarries from protections of the new law.

Kelly released a statement saying: ‘‘Every worker should be confident that they can complete a day’s work and return home uninjured.’’

A Westpac Rescue Helicopter spokeswoman said she understood an overhanging rock face came down ‘‘spontaneously’’ on top of the digger as it was driven inside the quarry.