Coronado Curragh Pty charged three years after fatality

The mining union has welcomed charges laid in the Emerald Magistrates Court against a multinational miner three years after a dragline operator died on-site.

Coronado Global Resources Curragh coal mine in Queensland. Picture: Supplied by Coronado Global Resources.

The mining union has welcomed charges laid in the Emerald Magistrates Court against a multinational miner three years after a dragline operator was fatally crushed.

Coronado Curragh Pty, a subsidiary of Coronado Global Resources Inc, was charged with failing to meet its obligation to ensure risk to mine workers is at an acceptable level under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act in relation to the death of Clark Peadon.

The beloved husband and father, a long-term union member and vice president of the Curragh Lodge, died in an incident at Curragh Mine at Blackwater west of Rockhampton on November 21, 2021 at just 54 years old.

Curragh mine worker Clark Peadon died on November 21 when he was crushed by a dragline. Picture: Contributed.

The Caves local, who was a member of the rural fire brigade, was fatally crushed by a dragline.

MEU General Vice President Stephen Smyth said Coronado must be held to account.

“Mine owners and operators must always fulfil their obligations to keep their workers safe,” he said.

“While some time has passed since his death, the pain felt by Clarks family and friends still persists.

“We owe it to Clark and his loved ones to do everything in our power to achieve justice and accountability for his death.”

Mining Energy Union General Vice President Stephen Smyth has welcomed charges against Coronado Curragh. Photo : Daryl Wright

A spokesperson for Coronado Global Resources said safety was the company’s most important priority.

“The safety of our people is our most important priority and we are committed to working hard every day to create an injury free workplace,” they said.

“We acknowledge the significant impact that this incident has had on Clark’s family and we again express our deepest sympathies to Clark’s family and his co-workers.”

Mr Peadon’s death came just two years after a 33-year-old Donald Rabbitt was tragically crushed to death under heavy machinery.

Mr Rabbitt had been working alone when a 4.5 tonne tyre he had been changing fell on him, crushing him underneath.

Goondiwindi man Donald Rabbitt was killed at Blackwater's Curragh mine on January 12, 2020.

Operator Coronado Curragh Pty Ltd was charged in 2021 with failing to ensure the risk to coal mine workers was at an acceptable level.

Contractor Thiess Pty Ltd was also charged with failing to ensure that the safety and health of others was not adversely affected by the way the contractor undertook work at the mine.

The site senior executive was also charged in relation to the incident, but that charge was later dropped.

The charges against the two companies were also dropped.

Originally published as Coronado Curragh Pty charged three years after fatality