Gordon Leonard Peet sues BMA over coal dust exposure at Saraji mine

A former coal miner has filed a $3.2m lawsuit alleging his life has been cut short and he will need palliative care after more than three decades working at a Central Queensland open pit.

A former coal mine worker has filed a $3.2m lawsuit against Saraji coal mine operator BM Alliance Coal Operations and mine owner Mitsubishi Development after he was allegedly exposed to large volumes of coal dust.

A former coal miner has filed a $3.2m lawsuit alleging his life has been cut short after more than three decades working at a Central Queensland open pit.

In documents filed in the supreme court the 65 year old claimed he has been exposed to large amounts of coal dust causing irreparable respiratory issues and will eventually need palliative care.

Gordon Leonard Peet worked for BHP Coal Pty Limited at Saraji Mine, at Dysart, from November 1985 to about December 2018 - first as a panel beater/spray painter and then as a serviceman.

In his claim sighted by this publication, Mr Peet alleged he was engulfed by coal dust during his work and as a result now has a shortened life as his respiratory condition deteriorates.

Gordon Leonard Peet is suing for more than $3.2m after he was allegedly exposed to coal mine dust while working at BMA's Saraji mine.

He is suing mine owner Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd and mine operator BM Alliance Coal Operations Pty Limited for $3,254,372.49.

Mr Peet claimed in his role as a panel beater/spray painter between 1985 and 1998 he worked in a shed about 50m away from a “large stockpile of coal”.

The claim stated large amounts of coal dust “regularly blew from the stockpile over to and into the workshop” where he performed duties.

“A large ventilation fan was situated in the roof of the workshop, which sucked coal mine dust from the outside into the workshop,” the claim stated.

“The coal mine dust from the stockpile came into the workshop and covered the workers, including (Mr Peet).”

The claim states Mr Peet “was not provided with any warning about the hazards of working in the coal mine dust”.

The 65 year old alleges he has a shortened lifespan.

In his role as a serviceman Mr Peet said he travelled around the mine fixing plant and machinery including both on the pre-strip and coal pits.

The claim states coal mine dust got into the cabin of the work truck he was provided because the door and window seals were in very poor condition and there were rust holes.

“Within a couple of hours of beginning a shift a significant amount of coal mine dust accumulated within the cabin of the service truck,” the claim stated.

At the end of each shift the accumulated coal mine dust had to be removed from the cabin.

Mr Peet alleged he “was provided with a compressed air hose to blow the coal mine dust out of the service truck cabin” however it would engulf him until it finally cleared out.

The claim stated while working in a service bay in the coal pits he was “in close proximity to a large stockpile of coal”.

Mr Peet worked at Saraji mine from 1985 to 2018. Photo: Zizi Averill

He alleged large quantities of dust frequently blew into the service bay area where he worked.

He stopped work in late 2018 but was still paid a wage in 2019. His employment was terminated in December 2020.

Mr Peet has alleged he “was exposed to large volumes of coal mine dust” in his roles with BHP Coal and that he “was not provided with dust masks or any other personal protective equipment to protect him from exposure to coal mine dust”.

He has alleged he was not given any or any adequate education on the dangers or risks “of inhalation and respiration of coal mine dust”.

In his claim Mr Peet also alleged he was not provided with “any or any suitable dust masks” and no steps or no adequate steps were taken to monitor the level of coal mine dust at the mine.

Mitsubishi Development and BM Alliance Coal Operations have not yet filed a defence. BHP has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Gordon Leonard Peet sues BMA over coal dust exposure at Saraji mine