LEGAL proceedings will continue this year over an incident in early 2006 where a worker at BMA’s Broadmeadow underground coal mine suffered extensive and life threatening burns.
The worker received extensive and life threatening burns at the mine on 27 February 2006 when the water truck he was driving ran down a surface access ramp, overturned and burst into flames.
The investigation by the Queensland Mines Inspectorate revealed faults and poor maintenance on the truck brakes.
In February 2007 prosecution proceedings for failure to meet obligations imposed by the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 began against the mine operator, the site senior executive and other obligation holders. Prosecutions against the operator and the site senior executive were heard in the Moranbah Industrial Magistrates Court on 21 December 2007.
The mine operator, BM Alliance Coal Operations Pty Ltd, pleaded guilty to the offences and was fined $35,000 and ordered to pay costs of over $9,300.
No conviction was recorded.
No evidence was led against the site senior executive and the complaint against him was dismissed. Queensland Chief Inspector of Coal Mines Doug White said proceedings against the other defendants will be heard in 2008.