Pressure mounts in Qld over miner deaths

A forum in Brisbane is exploring how to improve short- and long-term safety protocols at Queensland mine sites after the death of another miner on the weekend.

A loaded coal train travels along a rail line in NSW.

A safety forum will consider improvements to short- and long-term mine site safety protocols. (AAP)

The deaths of six Queensland miners in the past 12 months has prompted an emergency meeting of government, industry and union representatives to tackle on site safety.

Queensland Mining Minister Anthony Lynham told dozens of industry stakeholders at the Wednesday meeting that they are now in the "box seat".

Mr Lynham urged them to "speak up" about any safety concerns in the industry.

The Queensland government is facilitating the meeting after coming under pressure to do more about mine safety after the weekend death of Jack Gerdes, 27.

Mr Gerdes died after being injured by an excavator at the Baralaba North open-cut coal mine in Central Queensland in the early hours of Sunday.

His death led to initial talks between the government, mining industry and unions on Monday and two independent reviews were ordered - one into coal mine fatalities since 2000 and the other into current health and safety legislation.

The Brisbane meeting attended by senior mining executives, representatives, unions and peak bodies will look at what can be done to implement better short- and long-term safety protocols at mine sites.

Mr Lynham wants to leave the meeting with a feeling stakeholders are taking real steps to protect workers.

"This is where it is up to you," he told the group.

"We have six grieving families out there, I want to see no more."

State Opposition leader Deb Frecklington wants a parliamentary inquiry into ways to improve mining sector safety that would also look at work culture.

"The reason why I have called a parliamentary inquiry is to get to the bottom of each and every one of these issues, but also to ensure if there is a culture problem in the industry that it's looked into," she said.

Former Queensland Mining Council health and safety adviser David Cliff said prior to the last 12 months, Queensland recorded one or two mining deaths a year over the past decade.

He said the number of mining fatalities should be zero and the current figures fly in the face of modern standards.

Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said they would agitate for additional site-specific safety procedures.


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Source: AAP


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