Shaft Rescue System: New rescue technology unveiled for Queensland mines a ‘world-first’

A global mining company with significant investments in Australia has partnered to deliver a critical new piece of mines rescue equipment for use in Queensland’s underground mines. Details here.

Queensland’s mining industry has today unveiled a “world first” piece of mines rescue equipment for use at underground mines.

The Shaft Rescue System (SRS) is a $2.3 million mobile truck-mounted emergency system which will assist in underground rescues and change the face of the industry in Queensland.

The new technology was commissioned by Queensland Mines Rescue Service (QMRS) in partnership with Anglo American, and it was unveiled on July 28 at Aquila Mine, near Middlemount, where training exercises are ongoing with the SRS.

The Queensland Mines Rescue Service Shaft Rescue System.

Anglo American is a leading global mining company with significant investments in Australia and particularly in Queensland.

The company operates five steelmaking coal mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, and has additional joint venture interests in steelmaking coal and manganese, as well as copper exploration projects underway in Queensland and Western Australia.

The Queensland Mines Rescue Service Shaft Rescue System being inspected at Aquila Mine.

Queensland Mines Rescue Service chief executive officer David Carey acknowledged Anglo American for funding the equipment and supporting QMRS in its design and engineering.

“While we hope we never need to use it, the Shaft Rescue System will form part of the emergency response plan for every underground mine site in Queensland and we’re grateful for Anglo American’s support in delivering it,” Mr Carey said on Thursday, July 28.

“The SRS lowers interchangeable cages into mine shafts to rescue trapped miners and is equipped with a world-first intrinsically safe directional Wi-Fi communications system that can be used safely underground.

“The Wi-Fi enables radio communications from the rescue cage to the surface, captures and shares real-time video and sends data from a gas monitoring system.

“This equipment will make a meaningful difference to our emergency response capabilities in Queensland and will be housed at our Dysart headquarters in the heart of the Bowen Basin, so it’s close by if ever required.”

Shane McDowall (GM Aquila Mine, Anglo American), David Carey (CEO QMRS) and Chris Gately (Safety & Health Manager Anglo American).

Unfortunately the Central Queensland mining sector is no stranger to tragedy.

One of the more recent tragedies happened late last year when Clark Peadon was fatally crushed by a dragline at the mine site, about 10km north of Blackwater.

Mr Peadon, from The Caves near Rockhampton, was working at the mine on November 21, 2021 at 12.43am when the incident occurred.

In May 2020, five miners were seriously burnt in an explosion at Anglo American’s Grosvenor coal mine at Moranbah, south-west of Mackay.

At the time, former Mine’s Rescue and Grosvenor miner Wade Rothery described being “horrified” hearing the news members of his former crew were fighting for their lives after the blast.

Mr Rothery established the first long wall at the Anglo American Grosvenor Mine in 2016 and was a part of the company’s award-winning Queensland Mines Rescue team that claimed the state championship in 2016 and 2018.

Grosvenor Mine has continued to excel at these events which promote mine safety - this year finishing second at the QMRS Queensland State Cup Competition held at Ensham Mine, behind winner Moranbah North.

During the announcement on July 28, 2022, Head of Safety and Health at Anglo American’s steelmaking coal business, Marc Kirsten, said the company was pleased to support QMRS in delivering the Shaft Rescue System for all of those who work underground in the mining industry in Queensland.

“QMRS supports our industry with leading-edge emergency response capability and support, and we are pleased to have been able to support them in turn, by providing this vital and potentially life-saving equipment,” Mr Kirsten said.

“The Shaft Rescue System will improve emergency response capabilities across all underground mines in the Queensland mining industry, and it was important to us to make this investment in industry safety.”