Coal inspectorate alert confirms what miners were doing before fatal Gregory Crinum mine collapse

“A large quantity of roof material” dislodged and fell onto two men drilling holes in the roof of the underground mine, according to a new inspectorate alert.

The Queensland Resource Safety and Health Coal Inspectorate has issued an alert about the recent roof collapse at the Sojitz Gregory Crinum Coal Mine. Photo: Steve Vit

Key information about the tragic mine roof collapse that killed miner Graham Dawson and injured another was revealed on Tuesday.

The Queensland Resources Safety and Health Coal Inspectorate issued a safety alert about the incident at the Sojitz Gregory Crinum Coal Mine, which is 60km north east from Emerald.

The alert indicated that three men were doing work in a conveyor drift at the underground mine about 11pm on September 14.

Two of them were in a man basket “drilling Rocsil application holes into the roof of the drift using a QDS Bolter” and while doing so, “a large quantity of roof material” dislodged and fell onto them, the alert revealed.

The third worker, who was “in the adjacent area”, initiated an emergency response.

Emergency services were called to the mine about midnight.

Mr Dawson, aged 60 and of Bribie Island, tragically died at the scene.

His body was recovered four days later, on Saturday afternoon.

Graham Dawson.

A 25-year-old man suffered crush injuries to his legs and pelvis in the collapse and was trapped underground for more than four hours before being pulled out and flown to Rockhampton Hospital.

A third person was taken to Emerald Hospital in a stable condition following a medical event.

“The incident is under investigation,” the inspectorate alert said.

“The underground part of the coal mine has been evacuated and secured to prevent unauthorised persons entering the mine until it can be determined that it is safe to do so.”

Contractor Mastermyne said on Sunday that operations at the Crinum underground mine would “remain suspended and will not resume until further notice and in consultation with Mr Dawson’s family”.

Sojitz Blue, which runs the open-cut section of the mine, said operations there would start again after the Miners Memorial Day Service last Sunday.

Mining and Energy Union representatives said at the time that the move showed “zero respect” to workers.

The coal inspectorate urged mine operators to review their hazard management plans to prevent another similar incident.