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Subscriber only A senior mine inspector has told an inquiry that it was considered acceptable to let the Grosvenor mine continue operating after a spate of near-misses because a plan was in place to address them. The comment was made during Wednesday s hearing as part of the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry, which is exploring issues around Grosvenor mine, including the mine blast and other methane exceedances. Resources Safety and Health Queensland regional mines inspector Stephen Smith was grilled about the inspectorate s response to 27 high potential incidents that occurred between July 1 2019 and May 5 2020 at Grosvenor mine. Just a day after a HPI was recorded on May 5 2020, five men were horrifically burned during an underground fire at the mine.Â
Anglo metallurgical coal business chief executive Tyler Mitchelson said the mining giant had explored every aspect of risk management in its underground mines, as well as automation and remote operation.
“As the largest underground metallurgical coal miner in Australia, we will continue to leverage our scale to find new ways of addressing safety risks, drawing on international best practice and technology development, to ensure our systems and processes extend beyond current industry best-practice,” Mr Mitchelson said.
“We have proactively responded to learnings from the Grosvenor incident and the board of inquiry and already have a significant body of work underway across our operations.
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Subscriber only Queensland s Coal Mining Board of Inquiry has released a list of witnesses to appear at a second tranche of hearings into last year s Grosvenor Mine blast. The second round of hearings will begin on Tuesday, March 9 2021 in Brisbane Magistrates Court. The hearings will explore high potential incidents of methane exceedances that occurred at Anglo American s Grosvenor Mine between July 1, 2019 and May 5, 2020 as well as the May 6 blast that left five miners with serious burns injuries. The names of witnesses to appear in weeks one to three of the hearings have been released, with the board advising that weeks four and five are to be advised.
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Queensland’s Coal Mining Board of Inquiry is pushing ahead with a second tranche of hearings into last year’s Grosvenor Mine blast, with a list of witnesses set to be released in the coming days.
The second round of hearings will begin on Tuesday, March 9 2021 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
The hearings will explore high potential incidents of methane exceedances that occurred at Anglo American’s Grosvenor Mine between July 1, 2019 and May 5, 2020 as well as the May 6 blast that left five miners with serious burns injuries.
The inquiry began in August last year but faced delays.
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The Isaac region hopes to move from a âyear of sadnessâ to one of opportunity as residents are asked to take charge of the future in their communities.
Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said this year was about recovery and resilience.
Cr Baker said in the first six months of the year the Isaac region would set out its vision for the next five years.
She said the council would touch base with all its communities to discuss the infrastructure, social elements and community facilities needed.
âWeâre going to the community and asking what do you see for your communities future,â Cr Baker said.