In its safety bulletin this week, the Mines Inspectorate said it will be targeting non-compliance on primary escapeways and ventilation systems and has threatened to enforce Section 167 of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999. The section suspends mine operations if an unacceptable level of risk to coal miners is found.

The inspectorate said a number of underground coal mines were not implementing legislative requirements for escapeways, which could have huge safety ramifications.

The inspectorate used the stark reminder of the 1994 Moura No. 2 mine disaster where 11 men lost their lives after an explosion, but others survived by making their way through smoke-filled roadways to the surface.

At the time the Mining Warden made recommendations that all underground mines have one intake airway which is completely segregated from other intake airways to give two separate means of air intake.

The Queensland Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2001 states that senior site executives must ensure the mine has at least two trafficable entrances from the surface, which are separated, so in the event of one of the escapeways being blocked, there is still an option of escape through the other escapeway.

The inspectorate reminded ventilation officers they should ensure all ventilation control devices at the mine are properly constructed and maintained to ensure a high level of segregation.