Serious roof collapse triggers calls to review strata support systems

A fatal roof fall at an underground coal mine has reinforced critical safety lessons for operators, particularly around the design and ongoing management of strata support systems.

The incident occurred on January 2, at the Mammoth underground coal mine in Central Queensland, when a multi-bolter machine was being trammed from a bolted face to the next work area. During the process, a strata failure occurred with the roof collapsing above the bolted zone. 

As a result, the worker handling the bolter cable sustained fatal injuries.

While investigations are continuing, Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ) is urging underground operators to review their specific mine’s support design. 

“Design and construction of strata support is critical to prevent roof falls and must be based on the geological and geotechnical data for each site and the specific area of each mine,” the body said. 

Operators should also ensure their Site Senior Executive and Underground Mine Manager actively oversee the management of strata hazards and take steps to confirm risks are being appropriately mitigated. This includes reviewing the Principal Hazard Management Plan for ground or strata failure to ensure it remains effective and fit for purpose.

Ensuring operators are providing the resources necessary to reduce risk to an acceptable level and to be as low as reasonably achievable is also a key safety step.

“Strata failures, including in outbye areas, of underground coal mines can and have caused fatalities in Queensland,” RSHQ said in its safety alert.

“All incidents involving strata failure should be reported and thoroughly investigated.”