qld miner dies in underground collision

Qld miner dies in underground collision

Australia

Work has been suspended at a central Queensland mine after a worker was killed and a number of others injured in an underground collision between two machines.

The miner died after the grader he was driving collided with a personnel carrier at Moranbah North coal mine on Wednesday afternoon.

Ten people who were in the personnel carrier were treated for head, neck and facial injuries, with four treated for possible spinal injuries, mine operator Anglo American said in a statement on Wednesday.

Two people were airlifted to Mackay and two people to Rockhampton for further treatment.

The cause of the incident was not clear and an investigation will be carried out, Anglo American said.

“Our focus is on continuing to respond to the emergency situation, including the treatment and care of injured employees and supporting the affected families and colleagues,” it said.

Production at the mine has been stopped in line with the company’s emergency response procedure.

The incident has been referred to the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy.

Mining inspectors were en route to the site on Wednesday night.