A worker at BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s Blackwater coal mine in Central Queensland has tested positive for COVID-19.

The company said today that the worker concerned had not been on site since April 1, having used the BHP COVID-19 screening tool to self-assess their fitness to return to work.

“The individual is currently receiving appropriate health care and support at his home location in the Rockhampton region, and will receive a high level of support from BMA during this time,” the company stated.

“Overnight and this morning, we made contact with people who may have had interactions with this worker – those identified have been isolated as a precaution in line with health authority guidelines.

“All workers currently on shift were also temperature tested by our paramedic overnight and no abnormal temperatures were returned.”

CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland President Stephen Smyth said the union’s thoughts were with the affected worker, who was part of the Operations Services maintenance team at Blackwater. 

But he said the union was also concerned that the workforce had received minimal information about the matter including potential exposure and how tracing would take place. 

“BHP says that the risk of becoming infected in the workplace remains low – but if workers are not given all the information it’s difficult for them to have confidence that they are being kept safe,” Mr Smyth said. 

“In this case, there are multiple points of potential cross-contamination including machinery, transport, mess facilities and camp accommodation.

“Workers across the whole operation need reassurance that all of these risks have been identified, that they are being managed and that all potential exposure will be appropriately tracked. ” 

BHP said it would continue to work with local public health authorities and to reinforce strict social distancing, hygiene and cleaning practices at Blackwater mine.