Mastermyne charged with industrial manslaughter over death of Graham Dawson at Crinum coal mine

An ASX-listed mining company has been charged with industrial manslaughter over the death of a worker crushed by a collapsing roof in an underground coal mine. It is the first to be charged under new legislation.

Graham Dawson died in a workplace accident at Gregory Crinum mine near Emerald in September.

A Mackay-based coal mining company has been charged with industrial manslaughter over the death of worker crushed by a collapsing roof.

The charge against Mastermyne Crinum Operations — a subsidiary of Metarock Group Limited — relates to the death of Graham Dawson, 60, who died after a partial roof collapse at Sojitz Gregory Crinum coal mine about 11pm on September 21, 2021.

Another worker was seriously injured and trapped for four hours in the incident.

A spokesperson from the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor said the complaints were made to its office on September 2.

“Mastermyne Crinum Operations Pty Ltd has been charged with offences contrary to section 48C(1) and sections 39 and 34 of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999,” they said.

It is the first time the a charge of industrial manslaughter has been made under mining safety and health legislation since it came into effect in 2020, a spokeswoman from Resources Safety and Health Queensland confirmed.

Mining Union Queensland district president Stephen Smyth and Leesh Dawson, whose father Graham Dawson was crushed by a collapsing roof at Crinum Mine, calling for justice for miners killed at work.

“Resources Safety and Health Queensland investigated the incident and presented a brief of evidence to the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor,” she said.

In April 2024 RSHQ mine inspector Andrew Broadfoot raided the Mackay office for Metarock – the parent company of Mastermyne – and made copies of about 14,000 documents in relation to ongoing investigations into Mr Dawson’s death.

Emergency services were called to the Sojitz Gregory Crinum Coal Mine on Lilyvale Road near Emerald around midnight. Paramedics were unable to save Graham Dawson. Picture: Steve Vit

MEU Queensland District President Mitch Hughes said news of the prosecution would bring some relief to Mr Dawson’s family and workmates, even though nothing could make up for their tragic loss.

“In a period where we are seeing unacceptable rates of fatalities and serious injuries in the Queensland mining industry, workers and their families have been calling out for justice and for consequences when negligence kills or injures workers,” Mr Hughes said.

“We campaigned to see industrial manslaughter extended to cover the mining industry and we have also campaigned to see these laws used. Our industry needs accountability.”

Charges in the Graham Dawson case come after the second fatality in weeks at Byerwen mine and a major underground explosion at Grosvenor mine at the end of June.

Mr Hughes said that today’s charges should send a strong message about the consequences of cutting corners on safety.

“If you seriously injure or kill a worker, you will be held to account.”

Metarock Group Limited is listed on the ASX, where it released a statement on the charges on Wednesday morning.

“The Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor has commenced two charges against Mastermyne Crinum Operations, a subsidiary of Metarock, following Resources Safety and Health Queensland’s investigation into the tragic incident which occurred at Crinum Underground Mine in September 2021,” the statement noted.

“Because the matter is now before the court, it is not appropriate for the company to make further public comments about the incident until the conclusion of the legal proceedings.”

Originally published as Mastermyne charged with industrial manslaughter over death of Graham Dawson at Crinum coal mine