A 59-year-old man is dead after suffering critical head injuries while working in a coal mine in central Queensland.
Police responded to the workplace incident at the Moranbah North mine, inland from Mackay, about 10pm Friday.
The operation is owned by multinational company Anglo American, which confirmed on Saturday that the fatality was the result of an injury sustained in a lifting incident overnight.
The crew was attempting to move an old piece of equipment in a roadway underground, the company said in a statement.
“We are devastated by the loss of one of our colleagues at Moranbah North Mine and our thoughts are with their family and friends,” CEO Tyler Mitchelson said.
“We have ceased mining activities at Moranbah North and will undertake a full investigation with relevant authorities, so we can understand how this incident occurred.”
Operations have also been suspended across all Anglo American sites for sessions focusing on risk management.
It’s believed the man was an employee of a contractor.
Mines inspectors are attending the site on Saturday to commence investigations.
“Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased worker,” Resources Safety and Health Queensland said in a statement.
State government assistant minister and Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said the news was awful.
“My condolences to this mine worker’s friends and family. No one should go to work and not come home. I hope all the first responders are doing ok also,” she said on Facebook on Saturday.
Source: The Transcontinental – Port Augusta
