Exposed to nitrogen oxide, the two separate incidents put 24 workers in hospital earlier this month, according to the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin.

While a BMA spokesperson did not reveal the number of workers impacted, she previously told ILN that all of the workers admitted to hospital were from the Saraji mine.

Queensland’s Mining Safety and Health Directorate has established an industry steering group, chaired by explosives deputy chief inspector Noel Erichsen, to reduce post-blasting fume events.

Draft guidelines are expected to be issued by May 6.

About 120-150 shots are fired per week in the state, with the state government noting that less than 2% result in a fume event.

But the existing safeguards, such as the 1 kilometre exclusion zones, could be reviewed.

“We want to see fume events themselves reduced,” Queensland Mining Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said.

“All explosions generate gas and it is accepted that post-blast fume events will never be fully eliminated.

“The steering group’s task is to develop new guidelines that further minimise the risk.”

Representatives from mining companies, explosives suppliers and the union will be on the steering group.