Mining contractor charged with industrial manslaughter

The Mining and Energy Union has welcomed an industrial manslaughter case being launched against mining contractor Mastermyne, the first time that charge has been applied over a Queensland mine death. The Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor has filed two charges against the Metarock subsidiary Mastermyne Crinum Operations over an incident at the Crinum underground mine in September 2021. Graham Dawson, 60, was undertaking roof support work in a conveyor roadway when he was killed in a rock fall at the mine, north of Emerald. Two other workers were injured. Mr Dawson was working for mining contractor Mastermyne, which was undertaking work to bring the mothballed Sojitz Blue-owned mine back online. It took four days for his body to be recovered. A spokeswoman from the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor said today that charges against Mastermyne Crinum Operations had been listed for court on November 19 in Emerald. The business is charged under section 48C(1) (one offence) and sections 39 and 34 (one offence) of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999. Resources Safety and Health Queensland investigated the incident and presented a brief of evidence to the prosecutor. RSHQ confirmed that this was the first time a charge of industrial manslaughter had been made under Queensland's mining safety and health legislation since it came into effect in 2020. Related: Court hears of mine death probe raid on Metarock offices In a statement today, Metarock said its subsidiary Mastermyne Crinum Operations was considering its position. 'Because this 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,' Metarock said. The MEU said it had made the recommendation to prosecute after investigations by the union’s Industry Safety and Health Representatives indicated that Mastermyne’s strata control systems were inadequate. MEU Queensland District President Mitch Hughes said news of the prosecution would bring some relief to Graham Dawson’s family and workmates. Graham Dawson. “While nothing can make up for the tragic loss of Graham, it is a relief to know that those in charge of operations at Crinum will be held to account," he said. “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. “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.”

Mining contractor charged with industrial manslaughter

Industry Queensland

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