Springer, 30, died when he sustained a head injury during maintenance work at the Queensland  mine .

“Since I stood before you at this meeting last year … Daniel Springer, only 30 years old, died at Goonyella Riverside mine, leaving behind his young son and wife,” Mackenzie said.

“These fatalities have had a profound and permanent impact on … Daniel’s families, friends and co-workers.

“To these people, I offer not only my sincere and heartfelt condolences, but also a commitment.”

A full investigation is underway and the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance will continue to work closely with relevant authorities, the company said.

Mackenzie, who toured BMA’s Queensland coal operations this year, said the company entered this year “more committed than ever to make sure every one of our people goes home safe”.

“I commit to continue to define the most important part of everybody’s job, including mine, as making sure our teams go home safe, healthy and well every single day,” he said.

“It was encouraging to see us make some progress in safety last year, with improvement in our TRIF performance.

“We have, and we must continue to, reinforce the risks and critical controls to protect everyone on our sites and at all our locations.”

Mackenzie said one way BHP was already doing this is through its company-wide Field Leadership program.

“Field Leadership builds conversation, recognition and observation of critical

controls into the daily routines of all our leaders,” Mackenzie said.

 

“It means we see and reinforce positive behaviours first-hand, can quickly recognise when there are safety risks in our operations and can act upon them to reduce or eliminate through intervention.”