Worker Critically Injured in Pipe Blast at Central Queensland Mine
A 71-year-old worker was critically injured in a pipe blast at a central Queensland mine on Saturday. The incident has prompted a safety alert from the state's mining regulator, Resources Safety and Health Queensland.
A serious incident at a central Queensland mine has left a 71-year-old male worker critically injured. The man was taken to hospital after emergency services were called to the Crinum underground mine around 10am on Saturday.
The worker was treated for significant chest, facial, arm and abdominal injuries at Emerald and Rockhampton hospitals before being flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on Monday morning, where he remains in a critical condition.
The Crinum underground mine is part of the Gregory Crinum Complex, which includes an open-cut operation and is located 60 kilometres north-east of Emerald in the Central Highlands. The complex is owned and operated by Sojitz Blue.
Initial investigations by Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) found the worker was carrying out maintenance work on a pipe system when he was hit by a mine vehicle. According to RSHQ, "the man was standing on the front bumper of a mine vehicle, known as a drift runner, to access the pipework and as he tightened the clamp, the pipe blew, causing pressurised air to blast, creating dust and reducing visibility, and the man fell."
It is understood the operator of the drift runner then moved the vehicle, which struck the man on the ground. RSHQ's report stated that the reasons for the vehicle movement are unknown.
In response to the incident, RSHQ has issued a safety alert, highlighting the importance of ensuring workers isolate and depressurise systems before starting work on pressurised systems. The alert also emphasised that coal mine operators should ensure workers do not stand in areas where an unplanned release of energy could occur and establish an exclusion zone.
The safety alert also stated work should be undertaken using suitable work platforms, and not use mobile equipment for that purpose. RSHQ is continuing investigations into the incident, has isolated the scene and "suspended certain operations until they can be performed to an acceptable level of risk".
The Mining and Energy Union's (MEU) industry safety and health representatives are also involved in the investigations. An MEU statement said, "Our thoughts are first and foremost with the injured worker, his family, first responders and his workmates following this serious incident." The statement continued, "We will continue to support our members and the broader workforce as the full circumstances of the incident are established."