Leslie Robert Keen, 63, sues CPB Contractors and S2 Management for accident Leichhardt Accommodation Village

The management of a Central Queensland mine camp is disputing a $1.4m lawsuit, alleging a fall was the fault of a miner and wet floor signs were displayed. Read about the arguments in the case here.

A Central Queensland miner is fighting two mining companies in a $1.4 million negligence lawsuit after he fell in a puddle of water in a laundry at a mining camp, injuring his elbow.

The companies, however, are denying responsibility, claiming there were wet floor signs displayed and the laundry was regularly cleaned.

Leslie Robert Keen, 63, was employed by CPB Contractors as a dogger and rigger on the Caval Ridge South Circuit Project.

He was staying at the Leichhardt Accommodation Village, Moranbah, while on shift.

Mr Keen claims around 6pm on April 12, 2018, he was doing washing in the laundry of the mine camp when he slipped in a puddle of water and fell.

The alleged fall caused him to suffer a left elbow injury with ligament and nerve damage, and he required surgery.

He alleges the laundry was not fitted with sensor lighting, the floor was not non-slip and there were no non-slip mats on the floor.

Mr Keen is suing S2 Management, operating as Leichhardt Accommodation Village and Business Centre, for $773,101.80 and CPB Contractors for $717, 681.80.

The lawsuit was filed by Personal Injury Lawyers, Surfers Paradise, with the Rockhampton Supreme Court.

CPB Contractors, through its Brisbane lawyers, Hall and Wilcox, has denied responsibility of the incident as it did not happen while Mr Keen was doing work it employed him to do.

The company further argues the alleged fall was the fault of Mr Keen and he chose not to switch on the laundry lights.

It also alleges a different floor surface or matting would not have prevented the alleged fall.

S2 Management refutes Mr Keen’s argument for non-slip mats, stating it was not obliged to supply them by law and the tiles were non-slip.

Leslie Keen is suing for an alleged fall at Leichhardt Accommodation Village, Moranbah

It argues the laundry was cleaned and checked on a regular basis, there had been no reports of any previous falls and there were two large yellow wet floor warning signs at the doorway and between the washing machines.

Lawyers for S2 Management, Mills Oakley law firm Brisbane, further argue that on the day of the incident the sunset was at 5.54pm and by 6pm, it would have been dark and if Mr Keen turned the lights on he would have seen the water.

Plumbers attended the site after the alleged incident, at the request of S2 Management, and did not find any equipment damage or leaks in the washing machine.

Both defending companies stated the medical evidence did not support the money claimed in the lawsuit.

A final offer has been submitted.

Originally published as Leslie Robert Keen, 63, sues CPB Contractors and S2 Management for accident Leichhardt Accommodation Village