Man killed in mine wall collapse at Middlemount Coal Mine

A miner has died following a seven-hour rescue attempt after he became trapped in a digger following a wall collapse at a Queensland mine. It’s the third death at Queensland coal mine in 2019, with the CFMEU saying “it must be a wake-up call to the industry”.

INVESTIGATIONS continue into exactly what caused a wall to fall on a worker, killing him, at a Middlemount Coal mine, as staff process the fallout.

One source told The Courier-Mail the atmosphere at the site was sombre following the tragedy.

“The mood here isn’t great here,” one person close to the incident said.

Since 2007, 14 fatalities have been recorded in Central Highlands region mines and quarries.

Emergency services were unable to save the life of the miner who became trapped in a digger following a wall collapse at the central Queensland mine.

The miner was operating a digger on a shelf inside the mine, which is about 90km northeast of Emerald, when the wall collapsed onto the machine about 12.40pm, trapping him.

Crews were unable to access the patient for several hours due to the unstable and unsafe nature of the scene, and worked for hours to be able to safely access the trapped miner.

A spokesman from Queensland Police said crews finally managed to reach the miner around 8pm, at which point he was declared deceased.

Emergency services were attempting to retrieve the man’s body at the Middlemount mine late on Wednesday night.

Middlemount Coal CEO Gerrie Jordaan said there would be a full investigation.

“It is with great sadness that Middlemount Coal regrets to advise of the loss of one of its valuable team members in a mine site incident this afternoon,” he said.

“The details of the incident are now the subject of a full investigation to which Middlemount Coal will offer its full cooperation.

“We are working closely with emergency services and relevant authorities on this incident.

“Operations at Middlemount Mine have been suspended until further notice.

“The welfare of the family of the deceased and the safety of our people are our highest priorities.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to family and friends at this time and we have offered the company’s full support to them to deal with their devastating loss.

“We are deeply saddened by this news.”

In a statement, CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland President Stephen Smyth said:

“We are devastated a mineworker was killed in a shocking incident at Middlemount coal mine yesterday afternoon, where a high wall collapsed on to an excavator with the worker inside.

“On behalf of the whole Union, we extend our sincere condolences to the worker’s family, friends and co-workers. The worker was not a member of the Union.

“Union safety inspectors are on site and will conduct a thorough, independent investigation.

“This is the third fatality this year in a Queensland coal mine. It must be a wake-up call to the industry to look closely at the safety culture and practices across our coal mines. Workers must be empowered to stand up and speak out on safety matters without the fear of reprisal.

“Every worker should return home safely at the end of their shift.”

RECORDED DEATHS IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND MINES AND QUARRIES

- December 31, 2018: Allan Houston was fatally injured when his bulldozer overturned at BMA’s Saraji Open Cut Coal Mine near Moranbah.

- November 15, 2018: A worker was fatally injured at a quarry when he became entangled in the rotating tail drum of a conveyor belt at a site off the Peak Downs Highway at Wolfang, near Clermont.

- July 29, 2018: The operator of an articulated dump truck died after losing control of the vehicle at a quarry near Collinsville.

- August 5, 2017: Daniel Springer was fatally injured while carrying out repairs on a large excavator bucket. He was contractor with independent Mining Services at BMA’s Goonyella Riverside Mine.

- August 30, 2016: Ian Hansen was fatally injured by a falling deck plate that he and other workers were removing at Glencore’s Newlands Mine Coal Handling and Preparation Plant.

- March 12, 2015: Laurie Donovan died after a vehicle rolled at BMA’s Blackwater Mine

- February 16, 2015: Stephen Cave died when a tyre on a large mining truck exploded at Anglo American’s Dawson Coal Mine southeast of Moura.

- December 11, 2014: Ian Downes was crushed when a wall collapsed at Anglo American’s underground Grasstree Coal Mine near Middlemount.

- May 6, 2014: Paul McGuire was asphyxiated by a noxious atmosphere in Anglo Coal’s Grasstree mine.

- June 5, 2012: Sean Scovell died after becoming trapped in a conveyor belt at Moranbah South Quarry, operated by MCG Quarries.

- December 18, 2010: Wayne McDonald died after a tyre catastrophically failed causing an explosion at Foxleigh Open Cut Coal Mine near Middlemount.

- June 20, 2009: John Barker died when the ute he was driving collided with a piece of heavy machinery at BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s open cut Blackwater Mine.

- April 9, 2007: Jason Blee died after being pinned by a shuttle car against the mine wall at Anglo American’s Moranbah North Coal Mine.

*Information taken from the independent Mine Accident Database website and Queensland Government’s Business Queensland site.