Byerwen mine shut after Bundaberg man John Linwood, 56, dies in truck crash tragedy

A mine where two workers died in three weeks has been cleared to use heavy machinery again, as new details have emerged into how a vehicle came to be wedged under a loaded dump truck. UPDATE

The worker killed when a vehicle was crushed under a haul truck at a Bowen Basin mine has been identified, the second death at the same mine in weeks. The site has been closed in the wake of an investigation.

• Qld’s tragic history of mining disasters

A Bowen Basin mine reeling from its second fatality within three weeks has released details about how the latest tragedy that claimed the life of a Bundaberg father and grandfather occurred.

John Linwood was tragically killed at Byerwen coal mine, where work has been temporarily shuttered and staff sent home on full pay.

The 56 year old, who was a Macmahon contractor with a drilling background, had been driving a light vehicle when it and a large haul truck collided at Byerwen open cut mine, near Glenden, about 1pm Thursday.

Macmahon on Tuesday revealed the loaded dump truck was ascending the ramp leading out of the pit at low speed when the light vehicle driven by Mr Linwood approached from behind and ran into the rear of the larger vehicle.

It is understood the light vehicle has then become wedged under the haul truck.

Mr Linwood tragically died.

The mine was closed and Macmahon made the decision to keep the site closed pending the initial police and Resources Safety and Health Queensland investigations as it continued to co-operate with the relevant authorities to understand what had occurred in more detail.

RSHQ issued a directive suspending the use of all heavy vehicles at the site shortly after the incident about 200km west of Mackay, labelling the two deaths as “disheartening and concerning”.

RSHQ chief executive Rob Djukic said the suspension was lifted on Tuesday afternoon and Byerwen was able to resume activities “provided it can maintain a safe operating environment”.

“The RSHQ inspector who issued the directive to suspend the use of heavy vehicles is satisfied the requirements have been met,” he said.

Once more information was available, relevant stakeholders would be updated, Macmahon shared in a statement.

“This is a tragic and sad incident which has impacted our whole team,” Macmahon’s managing director and chief executive officer Michael Finnegan said.

“We continue to support our people, especially friends and family of our deceased colleague, as well as the dump truck operator.”

John Linwood has been identified as the 56-year-old McMahon contractor killed at QCoal's Byerwen Mine near Glenden on Thursday, August 22, 2024.

Mr Linwood was the sole occupant of the light vehicle and suffered life threatening injuries and tragically died, sparking a major probe into the mine’s second fatality in August 2024.

“It’s going to be a complex investigation due to the location of the incident,” Forensic Crash Unit Senior Constable Mark Siddall said.

“It’s going to take some time before we are aware of the full fact of what happened.”

It is understood the dump truck driver — while new to the Byerwen mine — was considered to have had sufficient experience.

The Byerwen mine. Picture: Supplied/QCoal.

On Friday morning police handed the site over to RSHQ to investigate and take regulatory action which included suspending the use of all heavy vehicles.

Second death ‘disheartening and concerning’

RSHQ chief executive officer Rob Djukic previously said the move effectively stops most operations at the mine.

“QCoal has chosen to suspend operations at the mine, but we’ve taken this extra step to ensure activities involving heavy vehicles cannot take place until our inspector is satisfied that it is safe to do so,” Mr Djukic said.

“We need to allow the mine to continue with some activities because it would be unsafe if it were to cease operating suddenly.

“We haven’t ruled out further action so our inspectors will continue to assess the site in the coming days.

“It’s disheartening and concerning to see a second fatality in less than a month at Byerwen.

“We want to assure affected workers, friends and families that we are conducting a thorough investigation and are committed to taking appropriate action.”

The mine’s decision to cease operations was separate to any regulatory action by RSHQ.

Chris Schloss, who died in a workplace incident at QCoal's Byerwen workers accommodation camp at Suttor, was part of the Tell Them Where To Go campaign fighting against legislation mandating QCoal relocate its workers accommodation to Glenden. Picture: QCoal

Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart at Friday’s Bush Summit in Townsville said even one fatality was “way too many”, as he voiced his thoughts and prayers for the family, friends and workers of the fallen miner.

“There will be a full and thorough investigation,” he said.

“This is another person who’s gone to work to do the right thing … (and) is not coming home to family and friends.

“This is the … second fatality in three weeks on that particular site, both very different sorts of fatalities,” Mr Stewart said.

“These things can be stopped, and it’s stopped through doing thorough risk analysis. It’s stopped when you have people calling out unsafe behaviours without fear of repetition. It’s stopped when everyone takes responsibility.”

“We need everyone to work together to make sure safety has got to be the number one worry.

“We learned that from the Grosvenor incident … when a mine blew up. That was where production was being put ahead of mine (safety).

Resources and Critical Minerals Minster Scott Stewart at Friday’s Bush Summit in Townsville. Picture: Paul Brescia

“We did a board of inquiry that gave us 65 recommendations, which we’re implementing as well.

“There is no such thing as bad luck. It’s about making sure risk analysis is done. It’s about making sure that you call out unsafe behaviours. It’s about making sure you take accountability your actions, but also making sure that you look after your mates.’’

Workers were still mourning over the death of Chris Schloss on August 3 when the latest tragedy occurred.

Mr Stewart said RSHQ had some of the “best inspectors working on our sites” and a “culture that is shifting to where reporting is embraced”.

‘We’re at a loss’

Mining and Energy Union general vice president Steve Smyth was on Thursday calling for the mine to be shut down until the investigation was complete and any underlying issues linked to safety resolved.

“QCoal are operating like a cowboy,” Mr Smyth said on Thursday, offering condolences to the family, friends and workmates of the fallen worker.

“It’s absolutely tragic, but also makes you angry at the same time that in the space of three weeks we’ve had another event at the same coal mine.

“We’re at a loss.”

Mining and Energy Union General Vice President Steve Smyth. (AAP Image/Steve Pohlner)

Macmahon was awarded the mining contract at Byerwen, which is running until June 2025.

Macmahon confirmed it was working with relevant authorities in relation to the fatal incident and counselling had been made available.

The company said its focus was to provide support to family, friends and colleagues “and we are committed to thoroughly investigating this incident”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues’ family, friends and workmates,” Macmahon Managing Director Mick Finnegan said.

RSHQ confirmed it was sending a coal inspector and serious incident investigation unit investigator to the mine.

“I would expect RSHQ to shut the mine down totally,” Mr Smyth said, adding he hoped workers were given the time to grieve before being expected to return to work.

On August 3, Chris Schloss, 48, suffered fatal injuries after he was struck by a crane.

Mr Smyth said after Mr Schloss’s death workers were told they could take leave or return to the tools.

“That’s atrocious,” he said.

Third mining death in 2024

This tragedy marked the third death across the Bowen Basin’s mines in 2024.

Luke O'Brien tragically died after he was pinned between a ute and B Double fuel tanker at Saraji mine on January 15, 2024. Picture: Facebook

Mackay man and racing enthusiast Luke O’Brien died at BMA’s Saraji mine on January 15, after the 27-year-old suffered crush injuries when he was pinned between two vehicles in the fuel-bar area of the Dysart mine.

Then, Mr Schloss suffered fatal injuries at Byerwen mine and the father of five was pronounced dead at QCoal workers’ accommodation camp at Suttor, southwest of Mackay.

QCoal Group Executive James Black at the time said his loss had been devastating to all.

“Chris has been part of the QCoal family for many years and has been integral in developing Byerwen since its launch,” he said.

It followed another tragedy when 21-year-old Zahn Rothery crashed his car and died while driving home after a seven-day swing at Byerwen mine.

It was about 11am on March 13 when Zahn’s Nisan Navara veered off the road and hit a tree. He was barely 90 minutes into his five-hour drive to Rockyview.

Mr Smyth said there had been 45 serious incidents at mine sites since January 1.

“The whole coal sector is not in a good spot, we’re not improving,” he said.

“We’re still hurting people, putting people at risk.”