Never forget Jason's death

CFMEU Queensland district president Stephen Smyth wants recommendations made at the inquest into the death of an underground miner to be set in stone.

CFMEU Queensland district president Stephen Smyth is concerned mine safety recommendations have not been implemented.

CFMEU Queensland district president Stephen Smyth wants recommendations made at the inquest into the death of an underground miner pinned by a shuttle car to be set in stone.

Following injuries to two underground miners at North Goonyella Mine at the weekend, Mr Smyth is angry and frustrated such accidents keep happening.

Moranbah North miner Jason Blee died just over three years ago and late last year the coroner at the inquest into his death handed down 18 recommendations for mine sites to implement into their everyday safety practices.

Mr Smyth – one of the CFMEU investigators into the death – said he fought tirelessly to make sure Mr Blee did not die in vain.

Nearly 10 months after the inquest, Mr Smyth is not convinced mining companies have heeded the coroner’s recommendations, which include that all underground mines should review interactions between pedestrians and moving machinery and a working party should be formed to meet with shuttle car designers to consider improvements to shuttle cars.

“These recommendations need to be made law,” Mr Smyth said.

“I believe most mine sites have looked at the recommendations or given them some consideration but I like to call it a lip service – they tell me they are looking into it but I know a lot haven’t done anything about them. Because it is only recommendations, mining companies do not have to apply them.

“However, if these recommendations were to be made mandatory, then every single mine would have to implement the recommendations. Like any industry left to its own devices, they will not follow through with anything.

“I am angry and frustrated to think that we went through that inquest, Jason’s family, friends and workmates, had to sit through it, recommendations are made to stop these incidents from happening, and then to have accidents keep occurring.

“So what have we achieved? How fair dinkum are these mining companies about safety? We need to make these recommendations law.”

A mines and energy spokesman for the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) said all of the coroner’s recommendations were communicated by the chief inspector of coal mines to all site senior executives (managers) of coal mines in Queensland shortly after they were handed down.

“Communication indicated the intent of how the Mines Inspectorate intended to ensure compliance with the coroner’s recommendations,” the spokesman said.

One of the recommendations made was: The Department of Mines and Energy should make a SIMTARS (Safety in Mines Testing And Research Station) reconstruction of the Jason Blee fatality and provide it to the mining industry as a training and education aid.

The spokesman for DEEDI said in relation to that recommendation a DVD had been finalised and would be distributed to mining companies in the near future.

Following the most recent accident, a 38-year-old fitter/mechanic who was pinned between a shuttle car and a wall in an underground mine is recovering in Townville hospital with a fractured pelvis. A 26-year-old driver of a shuttle car is in the Royal Brisbane Hospital after having emergency surgery to his left hand on Sunday.

Originally published as Never forget Jason's death