The Coal Mining Board of Inquiry’s final report paints a shocking picture of safety management at Anglo’s Grosvenor mine, the CFMEU says.

CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland president Stephen Smyth welcomed the release of the comprehensive report after an investigation sparked by an explosion at that mine last year.

He said the union would review all its findings and recommendations in the days and weeks ahead.

Mr Smyth said the most shocking thing to come out of the report was the detailed account of Anglo’s failure to manage dangerous gases at Grosvenor in the months leading up to the May 6, 2020 blast that seriously injured five men.

“I felt sick reading the detail about Anglo’s recklessness,” Mr Smyth said.

“Management knew there were problems following a series of high potential incidents during March and April, but did not slow coal production to match its gas drainage capacity.”

He said the last year’s explosion was a shocking and traumatic event and it made his blood run cold to think that the outcome could have been much worse.

“Coal mine workers put their lives in the hands of mine managers every time they go to work and they should be able to have confidence every possible measure is in place to protect them. They have been seriously let down in this case,” Mr Smyth said.

Mr Smyth said the union would work hard to make sure the inquiry’s findings led to systemic improvements in the industry – including employment practices.

He said a further inquiry focused on the widespread replacement of permanent direct jobs with casual labour hire in the mining industry was necessary to understand the relationship to safety outcomes.

“It’s not good enough for mine operators to just assert that casualisation is fine and dandy,” Mr Smyth said. 

“It’s certainly not the view of workers on the ground that removing rights and job security is conducive to a good safety culture. There is more work to be done to tackle this toxic business model.”

In its response to the report tabled today, Anglo American said it had been clear from the outset that the blast incident was unacceptable and that the safety of its workforce was its first priority.

“Over the past 12 months, we have put in place a range of measures to address issues that have come to light through detailed investigations and evidence before the Board of Inquiry,” Anglo American metallurgical coal business chief executive officer Tyler Mitchelson said.

“Over this period, we have already committed more than $60 million in technology pilots, additional gas drainage infrastructure, expert reviews and further improvements to a range of processes and controls.

“Underground coal mining, particularly in the area where Grosvenor mine is located, is complex with many interacting considerations and, as the Board has identified, further research into certain technical areas such as gas and spontaneous combustion management would benefit the industry.

“We will be helping to advance knowledge in these areas through our further $5 million funding commitment.

“The Board of Inquiry’s reports have made a number of recommendations, and we are confident we have already addressed, or will address, these ahead of the restart of longwall mining at Grosvenor Mine later this year.”

He said the use of automation and remote operation presented the single biggest opportunity to remove people from high risk areas and the company was fast-tracking this work across its operations.

Mr Mitchelson said that following the implementation of the recommendations from the Board of Inquiry, the industry would be safer. 

Industry regulator Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) said in a statement that it would continue to help coal mine operators meet their obligations to protect coal mine workers and give effect to the board’s recommendations about improving risk-management.

“We are also committed to ensuring any relevant learnings are applied to other resources operations,” RSHQ said.