71-year-old man critically injured in workplace accident at Crinum mine in central Queensland
Quick Look
- A 71-year-old male worker remains in critical condition at Brisbane's Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital after falling from a mine vehicle and being struck by it during pipework maintenance at the Crinum underground mine near Emerald, Queensland.
- Resources Safety and Health Queensland issued a safety alert advising workers to isolate and depressurise pressurised systems, use proper work platforms, and avoid standing on mobile equipment.
- The incident is under investigation by RSHQ and the Mining and Energy Union.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Crinum mine is part of the Gregory Crinum Complex, located 60 kilometres north-east of Emerald in Queensland's Central Highlands, and is owned and operated by Sojitz Blue. The mine includes both open-cut and underground operations.
In short:
A 71-year-old man remains in a critical condition at a Brisbane hospital after he was injured in a workplace accident at the Crinum mine near Emerald.
Initial investigations by Resources Safety and Health Queensland have found the man was standing on the bumper of a mine vehicle carrying out pipework maintenance when he fell and was hit by the vehicle.
What's next:
RSHQ has issued a safety alert advising workers to follow procedures when working on pressurised systems.
Queensland's mining regulator has issued a safety alert after a man was critically injured at a central Queensland mine.
A 71-year-old male worker was treated for significant chest, facial, arm and abdominal injuries after emergency services were called to the Crinum underground mine around 10am on Saturday.
He was taken to 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 mine is part of the Gregory Crinum Complex, which contains an open cut and underground mine, located 60 kilometres north-east of Emerald in the Central Highlands and owned and operated by company 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.
RSHQ's report stated 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 then understood the operator of the drift runner, for unknown reasons, moved the vehicle, which struck the man on the ground, the regulator's report said.
In the publication of its safety alert, RSHQ said before starting work on pressurised systems, coal mine operators should ensure workers isolate and depressurise systems, not stand in an area 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.
"Our thoughts are first and foremost with the injured worker, his family, first responders and his workmates following this serious incident," an MEU statement said.
"We will continue to support our members and the broader workforce as the full circumstances of the incident are established."
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What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
RSHQ will complete its investigation and release a formal report on the incident.
Likely · Within weeks
Sojitz Blue may review and update its safety procedures for work on pressurised systems at the Crinum mine.
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What specific safety procedures were not followed during the maintenance work?
- Why did the operator of the drift runner move the vehicle while the worker was on the bumper?
- What are the findings of the ongoing investigation by RSHQ and the MEU?
- What is the expected recovery timeline for the injured worker?
