Queensland Resources Council chief executive officer Michael Roche made comments about the recommendations handed down by Coroner Annette Hennessy relating to 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 work places,” he said.

Roche said the council had 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.

“Safety was the top priority of QRC members who have a goal of ‘zero harm’ and this extends to employees getting safely to and from work,” Roche said.

“Many mines provide busses to and from minesites and encourage their employees to use them instead of private transport.

“We look forward to carefully examining the recommendations and working with the Queensland police, Department of Transport and Main Roads, mining unions and mine employees to prevent death and injury on our roads.”