While the state’s Department of Resources and Energy did not put out a safety alert, it issued a prohibition notice over the throttle pedal issue and contacted the affected mines directly.

“The machinery may not be used until a satisfactory risk management plan has been put in place or the equipment has been upgraded,” a department spokesperson told ICN last week.

However, PPK had previously expected to “rectify” the problem by upgrading 90 of its operating Coaltram LHDs across NSW and Queensland in 10 days.

This deadline has passed with PPK largely achieving this goal.

“Yes all issues with the throttle pedal have now been resolved, we have changed out all the throttle pedals in record time, all bar two in Queensland, which will be done at the end of this week,” A PPK representative told ICN.

“All NSW Coaltrams are now back on the job, fully operational and compliant.”

He did not respond to a claim from an industry source that the primary safety failure related to how the electronic throttle would get stuck on “full throttle” when it got wet.