His 24-year-old passenger was seriously injured in the accident, which occurred at a crossing on land adjoining the BMA Goonyella Riverside coal mine near Moranbah.

Queensland’s chief inspector of coal mines Gavin Taylor said the incident was being investigated under the state’s Coal Mining Safety and Health Act.

“The recommendation is that coal mines review their safety and health management system to ensure onsite activities in rail corridors and level crossings are being managed at an acceptable level of risk,” he said.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche has supported recommendations handed down by coroner Annette Hennessy relating to two recent incidents of coal miners who crashed their vehicles while driving home from work.

Hennessy found driver fatigue was a possible factor in both crashes and made 24 recommendations to address road accidents.

“We will carefully consider all the recommendations made by the coroner to see what more we can practically do to improve the safety of employees as they travel to and from their workplaces,” Roche said.

QRC has been working on a guidance note on fatigue with the Queensland Mines Inspectorate and the major mining unions.

The guidance note will consist of recommendations for fatigue risk management.