Safety body flags vehicle crush risks following mine incident

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) has issued a safety alert to the state’s mining industry following a serious crush incident at a Central Queensland mine.

The alert comes as the regulator investigates the incident that occurred in the early hours of January 20, when a worker was injured after becoming trapped between two vehicles. The worker suffered fractures and was transported to hospital in a stable condition.

RSHQ’s chief inspector of coal mines, Jacques Le Roux, said the safety alert was intended to share early learnings from the incident while investigations remain ongoing.

“Initial information suggests a worker operating a bobcat was travelling up the box cut of the mine when they exited the vehicle after suspecting it had overheated,” he said.

“At the same time, a load haul dump (LHD) travelling up a ramp approached and made contact with the worker, temporarily trapping them between the two vehicles.”

Le Roux said vehicle crush incidents carry a high risk. 

“Vehicle crush incidents have the potential to be fatal, and this is a serious incident we are investigating thoroughly,” he said.

RSHQ’s alert urges site senior executives (SSEs) at Queensland mines to review their traffic management systems, including for transporting loads in or around the mine.

“The system should consider direction of travel of LHDs when loads inhibit vision for the direction of travel,” Le Roux said.

“SSEs should also review their ‘no go zones’ for all equipment on site and consider blind spots of the equipment with and without loads.”