A SHIFT supervisor at the Wollshed Gully underground gold mine in Ballarat made his way to the bottom of a ventilation shaft and used his mobile telephone to raise the alarm after the mine’s roof collapsed trapping 27 miners.
Rescue teams took six hours to free the men.
A Significant Incident Report [No. 2/2008] from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) recommended that mines have operating alternative escape routes.
Investigations continue.
Minerals Petroleum Regulation Director Phil Roberts from the DPI signed the report.
Philip Roberts
Director
Minerals and Petroleum Regulation
philip.roberts@dpi.vic.gov.au
www.dpi.vic.gov.au