Source: Mining safetowork
Date: January 8, 2025
The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) is launching an investigation into the 2024 explosion that caused a month-long fire at Anglo American’s Grosvenor coal mine in Queensland.
The fire broke out on June 29, leading to the immediate evacuation and sealing of the mine until the blaze was confirmed to be stanched on July 25.
Not much is known about how the explosion that started the fire occurred. The New South Wales Resources Regulator visited a number of coal mines across the state following the outbreak at Grosvenor in a bid to understand what could potentially lead to such an event.
The new MEU investigation will aim to bring together mine safety experts from Australia and around the globe, led by MEU Queensland district industry safety and health representative (ISHR) Jason Hill and general vice president Steve Smyth.
The investigation seeks to understand how the explosion was able to take place, including which systems and procedures failed to prevent it from occurring.
“The event itself was a coal mine explosion and had the potential for the catastrophic loss of life,” Smyth said.
“This investigation ensures that the MEU leaves no stone unturned in understanding why this explosion has occurred. We owe it to our members, their families and all underground miners.”
The MEU has already taken action, analysing documentary evidence and data, including gas monitoring data, ventilation readings, inspection reports, risk assessments, hazard management plans, standard operating procedures and trigger action response plans.
Already assisting in the investigation is Grosvenor site safety and health representative Julian Barnsdale, south west district ISHR Stephen Barrett and Queensland district policy and admin officer Annika Geraghty.
The team was joined by United Mine Workers of America administrator for health and safety Josh Roberts, who provided the proceedings with an international perspective.
A site visit of Grosvenor has since been conducted, with the team inspecting surface infrastructure and gas drainage and meeting with workers who were underground at the time of the event.
Hill said the witnesses interviewed by the team gave great insight and detail into the incident.
“We are very fortunate to have a very experienced and knowledgeable investigation team,” he said.
“It’s our intention to create a final report into this investigation, it is so important to do this before the mine reopens.”
Written by: Kelsie Tibben
