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Moranbah North miner killed

A MINER at Anglo Coal’s Moranbah North longwall mine was killed yesterday after being trapped between underground mobile machinery. The death follows a series of roof falls and high potential incidents at the mine last year that first put its safety practices under the spotlight.

Staff Reporter
Moranbah North miner killed

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union industry safety and health representative Greg Dalliston told International Longwall News this morning that he was on his way to Moranbah North to conduct an investigation into the death.

“I can’t tell you much at the moment until we meet with the inspectorate today and go through our investigation,” he said.

Anglo Coal spokeswoman Susan Johnston said police, mines inspectors and union inspectors are investigating the death.

Mining operations at the site of the accident have ceased during the investigation.

“We do not have specific details at this point in time on how the accident occurred,” Johnston told ABC Online.

“We know that the mine worker was found underground near some mobile equipment but beyond that we can't provide you with any details … an employee of contractor firm Walter Mining Proprietary Limited was working underground when the incident occurred.

“Our focus now must be on understanding why this tragedy occurred. Police, mines inspectors and union inspectors are onsite and in conjunction with Anglo Coal and Walter Mining undertaking preliminary investigations."

Last year at Moranbah North, a miner was knocked over by a ramcar and went under the vehicle, sustaining a fractured pelvis.

In another incident, two miners were pinned between a ramcar and a continuous miner and were lucky to receive only minor injuries.

After a roof fall in October, Anglo Coal released a statement that said the company places the highest priority on safe working conditions for employees.

“We are cooperating with site and industry representatives and Mines Inspectorate officials to get to the bottom of this and recent incidents which have taken place at the mine," the company said in October.

The Moranbah North mine is located in the northern part of Queensland's Bowen Basin around 18km north of the town of Moranbah.

ILN was unable to contact Anglo Coal Australia and Walter Mining at the time of publishing.

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