Mackay, Queensland: Tragedy as popular and long-serving worker dies in horror accident at Byerwen mine site
A ‘long-serving’ and ‘well-loved’ worker has died in an accident reportedly involving a crane at a coal mine west of Mackay in central Queensland, sparking a major investigation.
Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) were notified of worker’s death at the Byerwen mine site on Saturday morning.
Although the cause of the accident has not been confirmed, initial reports suggested it involved a pick and carry crane.
‘Our thoughts are with the worker’s family, friends and colleagues today,’ RSHQ CEO Rob Djukic said.
‘We are committing to a thorough investigation but as that is now underway, we will be limited in what we can say.’
The Byerwen mine site is located at Suttor, about 200km west of Mackay, in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.
An RSHQ coal inspector and Serious Incident Investigation Unit investigator are on the scene of the accident.
‘RSHQ has placed a heavy focus on the safety around pick and carry cranes, particularly in the past 12 months, through industry talks (and) safety alerts,’ Mr Djukic said.
A ‘long-serving’ and ‘well-loved’ worker has died in an accident reportedly involving a crane at a coal mine (pictured) west of Mackay in central Queensland, sparking a major investigation
The Byerwen mine site is located at Suttor, about 200km west of Mackay, in Queensland’s Bowen Basin. Map pictured
Emergency services rushed to the scene just after 7am, where the 48-year-old man was found unresponsive before he was later declared dead.
‘The death of the long-serving, senior and well-loved member of the QCoal team has shocked the entire organisation, the company said in a statement.
‘We are focused on the support of the family and the affected staff who are obviously devastated by this tragedy.
‘Police are investigating the incident and QCoal will not be commenting further until more details become available.’
Queensland Resources minister Scott Stewart also said the incident would be investigated.
‘It is too early to know how this has happened but there will be a full investigation by the independent regulator Resources Safety and Health Queensland,’ Mr Stewart said.
‘No death should happen at any workplace and my thoughts are with the man’s family, friends and colleagues today.
‘There will be a full and thorough investigation into how this happened.’
The Courier-Mail said that the incident reportedly happened on a campsite at the mine, where the majority of workers stay and where infrastructure work was taking place.
A Resources Safety and Health Queensland coal inspector and Serious Incident Investigation Unit investigator are on the scene of the accident. The mine is pictured
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson confirmed a report would be prepared for the coroner.
Mining and Energy Union representatives are on their way to the site.
‘The MEU has received the terrible news of a worker fatality at the Byerwen mine this morning,’ an MEU spokeswoman said.
‘Our thoughts are with family and workmates as we work to understand what has occurred.’
