Resource Minister Scott Stewart hints at new legislation after Saraji mine death

New details have emerged about the horror death at Saraji mine that claimed the life of racing enthusiast Luke O’Brien. Key issues into the tragedy have been identified.

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

New details have emerged about the horror incident at BMA’s Saraji mine that claimed the life of young Mackay man and racing enthusiast Luke O’Brien as key issues into the tragedy are identified.

The tragedy occurred about midday on January 15 when the 27 year old suffered fatal crush injuries after he was pinned between two vehicle in the fuel-bay area of the Dysart mine.

Resources Safety and Health Queensland on Wednesday confirmed initial indications suggested a light vehicle was being set up to tow a B Double fuel tanker that had become bogged.

“When the light vehicle was reversed, it crushed the coal mine worker against the B Double,” the mine safety watchdog revealed in safety notice.

Tragically Mr O’Brien was pinned between the tray of the moving ute and the fuel tanker’s bull bar.

He was taken to Dysart hospital but died later that evening from his injuries.

Mr O’Brien worked for BMA contracting partner BEP Engineering and Maintenance.

RSHQ, who previously confirmed two men including Mr O’Brian had been working in the fuel-bay area at the time, has identified key issues including why a light vehicle was used in an attempt to tow a bogged B Double, how the ute struck Mr O’Brien and why and how he was between the two vehicles when this occurred.

“Significant contributors in similar incidents include coal mine workers not being aware a standard operating procedure or similar work instruction was available from the safety and health management system (SHMS), with details of the controls to manage the hazards involved in the work activity,” the RSHQ safety alert stated.

“Site Senior Executives must ensure coal mine workers, and supervisors in particular, use the risk controls in the SHMS for every work activity.”

As a result of the tragedy BMA suspended operations at all sites on Monday.

Work restarted Tuesday morning at all BMA mines with the exception of Saraji.

It is understood workers at Saraji are being offered counselling support.

‘24 deaths too many’

Resources Minister Scott Stewart said any death in a mine is one too many after being questioned on why 24 had occured in the past 10 years, following the tragic passing of Luke O’Brien, and hinted at new legislation.

The 27-year-old coal mine worker passed away at Dysart Hospital after he was pinned between two vehicles at a major Bowen Basin open cut mine.

Speaking in Townsville, Mr Stewart offered his thoughts and prayers to the workers, and families of the man who had passed, acknowledging the pain to the “brotherhood and sisterhood of the resource industry”.

“When something like this happens it affects them all,” he said. “It’s a close knit family.”

Asked about more than 20 deaths in the past decade, Mr Stewart responded, “That’s 24 deaths too many. It means that we’ve got husbands, wives, dads, brothers not going home and more and I take these quite personally.”

He noted there had been three unannounced visits by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland in the past six months, along with two announced visits.

Premier Steven Miles also offered his condolences on behalf of all Queenslanders.

“Whenever somebody farewells a loved one to go to work, they are entitled to pick up their loved one at the end of the day,” Mr Miles said.

“Any death in a workplace is tragic.”

Mr Stewart pointed to the government’s efforts in making sure the resource industry is implementing the recommendations from the Board of Inquiry into the Grosvenor accident.

“We have legislation that we will be introducing very soon, another raft to ensure we can improve safety.”

‘I know our team will be deeply saddened by this’

RSHQ chief executive officer Rob Djukic said the death will impact the entire Queensland mining community.

“We’d like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of the victim, his friends and his co-workers,” said Mr Djukic.

“As soon as we were notified of the incident, we launched an investigation sending multiple investigators and inspectors from our Serious Incident Investigation Unit and Coal Inspectorate to the site.

“We’re also working closely with BMA to find out what went wrong and prevent this from happening again.”

As this investigation is ongoing, further information about the incident will be limited.

The man’s next of kin have been told.

“We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our contracting partners was fatally injured following a vehicle incident at Saraji mine yesterday afternoon,” BMA asset president Adam Lancey said.

“Emergency services responded to the scene and RSHQ has been notified.

“We are working closely with the Mines Inspectorate and relevant authorities.

“Operations at Saraji remain suspended.

“Our deepest sympathies are with the person’s family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.”

In a note sent to Mr Lancey sent to Saraji workers and obtained by this publication, he said the company would undertake a “full investigation to understand what happened and the circumstances that led to this fatality”.

“Across BMA I know our team will be deeply saddened by this … this is a tragic reminder of why safety must always be our first and highest priority,” he said.

Workers at the mine have been told to attend the Dysart Civic Centre where counselling support will be provided.

Mackay’s forensic crash officers will attend today and prepare a report for the coroner as they assist with the investigations.

Mining and Energy Union Queensland President Mitch Hughes said he was “saddened” by the news of the Saraji South fatality on Monday.

“This is the worst news we can ever receive,” he said.

“We are devastated that a coal miner is not returning home at the end of their shift.

“Our hearts go out to friends and family. We offer our deepest thanks to first responders and support to workmates who may be traumatised by the events.

“Union safety inspectors are at the site to conduct a thorough investigation, we will ensure no stone is left unturned in understanding what has occurred and preventing future fatalities and injuries.”

DEATH SECOND FOR MINE IN FIVE YEARS

This tragedy comes five years after the horror death of Gracemere father, who did not survive when his dozer rolled 18 metres down an embankment also at Saraji mine on December 31, 2018.

Allan Houston was killed on New Year's Eve in a mining accident at Saraji Mine near Dysart.

His vehicle came to rest upside down in a pool of mud and water.

The 49 year old was found trapped in the cabin with his seatbelt fastened and tragically did not survive.

In September 2023 the mine safety watch dog cracked down on the BHP mine suspending operations for working near bodies of water after a fatal hazard was identified more than four years after Mr Houston’s death.

The safety concerns were raised in August prompting acting regional mine inspector Paul Brown to earlier this month issue multiple directives to the mine’s site senior executive.

The MRE, viewed by this publication, states this includes suspending all operations working near bodies of water until any risk has been reduced, which has a directive deadline of October 31, 2023.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart this morning wrote, “My heart goes out to the friends, family, and workmates of the man who tragically lost his life yesterday during an incident at the Saraji mine.

“This is a terrible tragedy which should never have happened.

“Every worker deserves to go home from every shift safe and well – any death is simply not acceptable in our mines or in any Queensland workplace.”