Dragline bucket slips, lands on dozer at Blackwater mine near Emerald

Some operations were suspended after a dragline bucket slipped while it was being positioned at a Bowen Basin mine. DETAILS

A dragline bucket slid on top of a dozer at Blackwater mine on September 15, 2023.

Some operations were suspended after a dragline bucket slipped while it was being positioned, landing on a dozer at a mine in Central Queensland and sparking an RSHQ investigation.

The mine safety watchdog is investigating the incident which occurred on September 15, 2023 and BMA’s Blackwater mine, near Emerald.

The operator saw the bucket riding up the blade and stopped – the bucket slid, rather than dropped.

There was minor damage to the dozer.

A BMA spokesman said no one was injured.

“On September 15 a dozer operator stopped positioning a spare dragline bucket after it unexpectedly moved,” the BMA spokesman said.

“After reporting and surveying the area the bucket was safely lifted off and the dozer was able to drive away under its own power.”

It is understood BMA reported the incident immediately.

Resources Safety and Health Queensland confirmed it was aware of the incident at Blackwater mine.

“RSHQ inspectors have been on site and are investigating the incident,” RSHQ Chief Inspector of Coal Mines Jacques le Roux said.

“The mine has suspended the use of dozers for the specific task and are using alternative measures to conduct the maintenance task.

“RSHQ’s vision is zero serious harm for all Queensland resource workers.”

Mine safety inspectors were also recently at Blackwater mine after there were two dozer rollovers, prompting a safety alert over a spike in dozer rollovers across Queensland mines.