Dozer rolls at Anglo Moranbah North mine in Bowen Basin

Just hours after workers were briefed in response to a shocking spate of rollovers, another dozer has suffered the same fate, prompting calls for a deep dive into ‘tick and flick’ practices within the industry.

A worker has been rescued after yet another dozer rollover, in what is the fourth near-tragedy on Queensland mine sites in less than a week.

A dozer rolled about 7.30am Monday at Anglo Coal’s Moranbah North mine, west of Mackay, hours after the CFMEU issued a safety alert in response to the spate of rollovers.

The Moranbah North operator was freed midmorning and was reportedly unharmed.

Resources Safety and Health Queensland was made aware of the incident.

It follows three other dozer rollovers in the past seven days across the Bowen Basin, including just after midnight on Saturday at Peabody Moorvale Mine at Coppabella where a 43-year-old contractor was buried under rubble for eight hours.

Rescue crews had feared they were facing a recovery mission, but the man was retrieved and taken to Moranbah Hospital.

He was treated and released shortly after admission, a Peabody spokeswoman advised.

Investigations are ongoing into a dozer incident at Curragh mine (pictured) less than 12 hours before a man was seriously injured at Saraji mine when a dozer reportedly rolled 12 times down the dig face.

“The mine’s incident management and emergency response teams were immediately activated and appropriate authorities were notified,” the spokeswoman said.

“After a comprehensive rescue and retrieval operation, our team was able to reach the dozer and rescue the operator inside.

“Operations at the Moorvale mine and our neighbouring joint venture mine, Coppabella, were immediately suspended and will gradually resume only when we are satisfied we can safely begin operation and all necessary procedures have been followed.”

The booming coal industry in Queensland has fuelled concerns there is a worsening ‘tick and flick’ culture, giving recruits a green light to operate heavy machinery.

CFMEU Queensland president Stephen Smyth said it was a “miracle” the Moorvale contractor got out alive.

“There’s certainly a concern in the industry – between the incident at Saraji, and the one on Saturday at Moorvale,” Mr Smyth said.

“The seriousness of those incidents cannot be emphasised enough.”

CFMEU Queensland president Stephen Smyth. Photo: Daryl Wright

Mr Smyth said the skills shortage was upping pressure on getting persons qualified to operate heavy machinery, an issue when “external training mobs” issued tickets without practical experience being completed on a mine site.

Then when newly-trained operators arrive on mine sites, a paper ‘tick and flick’ exercise is reportedly carried out to give the final approval, what is known as being ‘passed out’.

Mr Smyth is calling for stricter training measures as well as closer supervision on mine sites, with tanklike dozers required to operate at night and in environments where coal can behave like unstable sand, particularly after heavy rain.

“Maybe there’s some jobs that are being done that shouldn't be done at night time, for example working near edges,” he said.

He further hit out at the responsibilities designated to safety-critical statutory role holders, saying Open Cut Examiners should not be in a position where they both supervise production levels and are responsible for workers’ health and safety.

He said older and highly-skilled workers were ageing out of the industry, adding to the difficulties.

“The other thing you throw into the mix is supervisors who are fast-tracked or have a mate of a mate of a mate who’s put into a role and they don’t actually understand the task or what’s at hand,” Mr Smyth said.

Workers protested near Anglo American's Moranbah North Mine over safety concerns on Friday June 5, 2020.

Anglo Moranbah North Mine general manager Dan Yates said they would “undertake a detailed investigation to understand” how Monday’s rollover occurred.

“The most important thing is that our colleague is safe and well, and we are grateful to our Mines Rescue Team who safely rescued the operator from the dozer, unharmed,” Mr Yates said.

“While no one was hurt, this incident occurred despite onsite sessions occurring yesterday focused on recent dozer incidents across our industry.”

The Peabody spokeswoman said Peabody was conducting its own investigation into the Moorvale incident and would continue full co-operation with Queensland mine safety authorities.

“We have been in regular contact with the contracting company and the mineworker’s family and they will continue to receive Peabody’s support,” she said.

“The safety and wellbeing of our people is Peabody’s highest priority and we are offering face-to-face counselling to those involved in the rescue operation and any other employees who need assistance.

“We are immensely grateful to our own employees and to Emergency Services personnel who assisted in the rescue operation.”

This publication asked Resources Health and Safety Queensland for comment regarding the Moorvale incident but did not receive a response by deadline.