Industrial Court of Queensland Sets Aside Conviction of Anglo Coal for Mining Death

The Industrial Court of Queensland has set aside the 2023 conviction of mining giant Anglo Coal in the death of a worker at its Moranbah North mine in Central Queensland. The court's decision, handed down by president Justice Peter David on June 27, rejected Anglo Coal's appeal and upheld the finding that the mine had breached Queensland's Coal Mining and Safety Act. The court's decision marks a significant shift in the case, which had previously determined that Anglo Coal was not guilty of causing the worker's death. However, the court did find that the mine had failed to discharge its safety obligations and caused bodily harm to the miners in the drift runner.

Key Takeaways:

• The Industrial Court of Queensland has set aside the 2023 conviction of Anglo Coal for the death of a worker at its Moranbah North mine.
• The court's decision, handed down by president Justice Peter David, rejected Anglo Coal's appeal and upheld the finding that the mine had breached Queensland's Coal Mining and Safety Act.
• The court's decision marks a significant shift in the case, which had previously determined that Anglo Coal was not guilty of causing the worker's death.
• The court found that the real issue was whether the brake failure was due to causes over which Anglo Coal had no control.
• Anglo Coal has been given until July 25 to make a submission on what further orders ought to be made.

Statistics:

• The mining giant Anglo Coal was convicted of failing to discharge its health and safety obligations in 2023.
• The court's decision was handed down by president Justice Peter David on June 27.
• The breach of Queensland's Coal Mining and Safety Act occurred at the Moranbah North mine in Central Queensland.
• The worker who died in the accident was 47-year-old Bradley Alistair Hardwick.
• The grader involved in the accident carrying several people in a drift runner.
• Anglo Coal had carried out tests on the machine's brakes as specified by the manufacturer.

Sources:

• Bradley Hardwick, Industrial Magistrate, Industrial Court of Queensland, Moranbah North, Anglo Coal, Anglo American
• Mining Deaths Mining Accidents and Incidents
• Courts Queensland's Industrial Court
• Bradley Alistair Hardwick, age 47
• Moranbah North mine in Central Queensland
• Anglo Coal, Queensland's Coal Mining and Safety Act.