Death probe continues after mine roof collapse

Investigations are continuing into the Crinum coal mine roof fall which killed a Mastermyne employee on Tuesday night as further details of the incident emerge. Mining and Energy Union Queensland District president Stephen Smyth said he understood the man and his co-workers were undertaking strata support work in the mothballed mine's conveyor roadway when the collapse occurred. New owner Sojitz Blue has been working to bring the underground mine back online by the end of the year. It awarded a $600 million contract for Mastermyne Group to carry out re-establishment work as well as providing mining services when Crinum is in operation. A man in his 60s was killed in the rock fall on Tuesday night while a colleague was trapped for hours before being airlifted to Rockhampton Hospital in a serious condition. A third worker was transported in a stable condition to Emerald Hospital following a medical event, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said. Mr Smyth said he understood the accident happened in an area of the mine which had suffered roof falls after Crinum went into care and maintenance under former owner BMA. "As part of the overall program to get back into production, they have to recover the travel road and conveyor road," he said. "It would be part of the overall plan to stabilise any areas of roof or rib that require it, fix ventilation devices, whatever is required." Members who had worked at the site previously had told him of roof falls in the conveyor drift after operations retreated from that part of the mine and transitioned to Crinum East more than a decade ago, Mr Smyth said "If you looked at Crinum in its hey day, its biggest risk was strata rather than gas or anything else," he said. "But Sojitz Blue and Mastermyne and the regulator would have had to undertake a plan on how to recover it, the level of support required ... they would have geotech reports, they would have all the information there." Resources Minister Scott Stewart extended condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of the man who passed away at central Queensland mine. He praised the professionalism of first responders, including those from the Queensland Mines Rescue Service and emergency services. "Any loss of life on our mine sites is unacceptable, and it is my expectation the Queensland Mines Inspectorate and Resources Safety and Health Queensland will investigate this incident thoroughly and with diligence," he said. Operations ceased at the Crinum mine after the accident and were also on hold at Sojitz Blue's neighbouring Gregory open-cut mine last night. Below: Queensland Mines Rescue Service shared this photo of the re-entry into Crinum underground late last year as Sojitz Blue planned work to restart the operation.

Death probe continues after mine roof collapse

Industry Queensland

Related News

BHP in takeover bid for Anglo American

QAL upgrade attracts $94m federal grant

Bridge damage under scrutiny after excavator mishap

Get access to breaking mining news, now.