Court ruling reinforces importance of safety in mining

A recent court judgment has sent a ”clear message” that worker health and safety remains a top priority in Queensland’s mining industry.

Highlighting the importance of health testing for operators in the sector, a mining contractor was recently fined more than $30,000 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for failing to arrange required health assessments for two coal mine workers.

The case followed an investigation by Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ), which found that the failure occurred after a company director falsified medical, as well as drug and alcohol screening reports.

RSHQ’s director of health strategy and compliance, Patrick Jensen, said the sentencing reinforced that health protections cannot be compromised.

“These actions undermine health protections for workers and ultimately put lives at risk,” Jensen said.

“Medical tests ensure workers can do their job safely and are vital in the early detection of occupational diseases like black lung.”

He said the regulator takes these matters seriously and will act where safety standards are neglected.

“Not only did the contractor put workers’ safety and health at risk, but the company will also now pay a $32,500 fine,” he said. “Neglecting testing obligations and endangering workers’ safety and health will not be tolerated and will prove far more costly than implementing proper medical screening.”

Jensen said the outcome serves as a reminder to the industry that maintaining rigorous medical screening processes is essential to safeguarding the wellbeing of mine workers.

The company’s director was separately sentenced in September for falsifying the records, a distinct offence from the contractor’s failure to arrange the health assessments.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching its obligations under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 and was sentenced on October 24, with no conviction recorded.