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Blackwater mystery

FEW additional details have emerged about the vehicle rollover which killed a worker during a shift changeover at BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s Blackwater open cut coal mine on Thursday.

Blair Price
Blackwater mystery

A BMA spokeswoman said the accident involved a Raptor transporter vehicle while Queensland’s Department of Natural Resources and Mines said it rolled over while transporting workers during a change of shift about 6.50am.

The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union confirmed the victim was from a labour hire company.

CFMEU mining and energy division Queensland district president Stephen Smyth told ICN on Friday that the accident was under investigation by union safety representatives and Queensland government inspectors.

But he was still unsure of the victim’s name or “other factors” with the accident at that time.

“We want to ensure that an open and transparent investigation to occur without hindrance or obstructions,” he said.

The Blackwater fatality follows a tyre explosion-related fatal accident at the Dawson coal mine in the state last month.

Queensland’s coal industry has also been rocked by two separate fatal accidents at the Grasstree longwall mine, plus a shocking vehicle crash which killed three workers from an Aurizon coal train crew – all since the start of 2014.

TransSpec Vehicles’ Raptor truck is designed to transport up to 20 passengers on mine sites and is also used for site tours.

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