Worker suffers critical injuries after bulldozer rolls near Meandu coal mine

A man has died after he was crushed by a bulldozer which rolled down a hill at a PowerLink Queensland construction site near a Darling Downs coal mine.

A worker was injured after a bulldozer rolled near the Tarong Power Station and it associated coal mine, Meandu, at Nanango.

A 55-year-old man has died after he was crushed by a bulldozer at a PowerLink Queensland construction site near the Meandu coal mine at Nanango.

The incident occurred at a construction site near the intersection of Ridge Road and Tarong Power Station Road shortly before 9am on Wednesday.

It is understood the bulldozer rolled down a hill and crushed the man, who was outside of the vehicle at the time.

A 55-year-old man has died after a bulldozer rolled at a Powerlink worksite near the Meandu Mine and Tarong Power Station at Nanango

Four QFES crews were dispatched, along with police and Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics but there was nothing they could do to save the man.

The worksite is located on land adjacent to the State Government-owned Tarong Power Station and the Meandu coal mine in the South Burnett.

A Powerlink spokesman said the company was looking into the death.

“Powerlink is aware of an incident at a project site near Meandu Mine this morning where a man has tragically died,” he said.

“Our thoughts are with the man’s family and colleagues.

“Powerlink considers providing a safe working environment for its employees, contractors and the public as essential. We will cooperate with the appropriate authorities.”

A man died after he was crushed by a bulldozer at a Powerlink construction site near the Tarong Power Station, at Nanango.

It is understood the man was working for Downer, a construction company contracted to relocate transmission assets.

Construction Forestry Mining and Electrical Union state secretary Michael Ravbar said the man’s death highlighted the risks workers face.

“Our thoughts are with the family members and fellow workers impacted by this tragedy,” he said.

“This tired government has ignored multiple warnings about the urgent need to modernise outdated safety regulations.

“The Office of Industrial Relations is a joke and the regulator Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is failing the industry and the wider community.

The incident comes after 17-year-old construction worker Tyler Whitton died as a result of critical injuries suffered when he fell about 4m at a CS Development Group worksite on Victoria St, Brisbane in September.

“How many construction workers need to die before the Palaszczuk Government changes the laws and forces the regulator to do its job?,” Mr Ravbar said.

It is understood Queensland Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni will address the media later today.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland will investigate the matter, supported by officers from the Queensland Police Service.