Media

Storm season increases risk to worker safety at Qld mines

28 Nov 2023

The state's safety regulator for the resources industry is warning mine sites to prepare for storm season and put the safety of workers first.

Free lung tests come to the Sunshine Coast

21 Nov 2023

N.B. Bookings are essential for this service. RSHQ kindly asks that media promote the following line when writing stories: "To book, call the Mine Dust Health Support Service on 1300 445 715" or link to this website: Contact | Miners' health matters (rshq.qld.gov.au)

Dugald River mine fatality investigation update

17 Nov 2023

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) investigators have presented a brief of evidence to the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor regarding the mine fatality at Dugald River earlier this year.

New safety campaign to reduce gas explosions and serious injuries

06 Nov 2023

Business owners in the hospitality and catering industry are being urged to put gas safety on their menu, as a new campaign launches in time for the busy holiday period.

Partial amputation triggers warning from mine safety regulator

26 Oct 2023

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) is urging mine sites to be more hands on when it comes to preventing one of the mining industry's most common incidents.

Free lung tests come to Mackay and Proserpine

19 Oct 2023

Graham Bowcock, 74, is living proof that getting a lung checkup can change your life for the better.

Joint taskforce cracks down on unsafe transportation of explosives

06 Oct 2023

A joint taskforce has found an alarming number of vehicles carrying explosives across Queensland have defects, putting road users at risk.

El Niño event increases heat risk at Queensland mines

05 Oct 2023

Queensland mine workers are starting to experience the effects of hot weather conditions as summer approaches and the country enters an El Niño weather event.

Memorial service pays tribute to lives lost at Queensland mines

19 Sep 2023

Queensland's resources sector today remembered the 1,506 lives lost at Queensland mines and quarries for Miners Memorial Day.

RSHQ officers ensure Riverfire goes off with a bang

31 Aug 2023

Officers from Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) are performing their final safety inspections on fireworks before Riverfire kicks off for another year.

Free health checks detect lung diseases in retired miners

30 Aug 2023

A mobile health unit that travels around Queensland offering free lung checks for retired and former Queensland mine and quarry workers is coming to Mount Isa from 18 – 20 September 2023.

Emergency exercises prepare coal mine workers for the real deal

18 Aug 2023

Queensland’s biggest underground coal mine exercise is about to kick off for another year, and for the first time Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) is releasing footage from the mock emergency.

Qld mining industry caught dozing off on dozer rollovers

15 Aug 2023

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) is cracking down on Queensland coal mines that are failing to protect workers from dozer rollover incidents.

RSHQ spots dangerous pattern at Queensland coal mines

03 Aug 2023

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) officials are calling on Queensland coal mines to improve the way they operate articulated mobile cranes, following a spike in incidents.

Feedback wanted from industry workers to improve safety

26 Jul 2023

The Competency Standard (CS) is now under review by the Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate within Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ), and they’re seeing feedback from industry insiders through a discussion paper that’s been released today.

Border operation prevents illegal fireworks entering Queensland

12 Jul 2023

Officers from Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) undertook a three day blitz on motorists entering Queensland from the Northern Territory to conduct safety checks and seize illegal fireworks after Territory Day.

Doctor training program continues to support medicals for miners

28 Mar 2023

Doctors approved by Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) to carry out medicals for mine and quarry workers must successfully complete RSHQ’s Statutory Medicals for Mine and Quarry Workers training program.

RSHQ’s response to the Transport and Resource Committee’s inquiry into coal mining industry safety

17 Feb 2023

RSHQ made a number of submissions during the Transport and Resource Committee’s inquiry into coal mining industry safety and welcomes the release of its report.

Compliance directives issued after serious mining incidents

08 Feb 2023

Resources Safety and Health Queensland has issued compliance directives to mine operators following a series of serious incidents at Central Queensland coal mines involving mobile equipment operating on coal stockpiles.

Confidential complaints and incident reporting

19 Jan 2023

Court refuses stay of enforcement action against former mine officials

12 May 2022

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) has successfully resisted an application to suspend the effect of enforcement action taken against two former officials of North Goonyella mine, while an appeal of the enforcement action is underway.

Industry leader briefings reinforce the need for change

04 May 2022

Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ) today released its annual briefing for the resources industry to provoke thought, discussion and action from industry leaders.

Quarry operators on notice to improve safety performance

14 Dec 2021

A quarry operator in the Darling Downs region has been fined $45,000 for failing to discharge its obligation to ensure that risk to workers at the quarry was at an acceptable level.

Doctor’s registration with RSHQ suspended for substandard medical examinations

01 Nov 2021

On 13 September 2021, a doctor’s approval under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme was suspended for 12 months after failing to show due care and skill in carrying out medical examinations.

Former North Goonyella mine officials’ statutory certificates of competency cancelled

12 Oct 2021

On 11 October 2021, the Chief Executive Officer, Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) cancelled the statutory certificates of competency of two former officials at North Goonyella coal mine, finalising an enforcement process relating to an underground fire that occurred at the mine in 2018.

Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry’s part 2 report tabled in parliament

11 Jun 2021

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) welcomes the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry’s part 2 report, tabled in the Queensland parliament on Monday 14 June 2021 by the Honourable Scott Stewart MP, Minister for Resources.

Quarry operator fined $180,000 for breaching safety obligations resulting in the loss of a young man’s life

26 Feb 2021

On 25 February 2021 a quarry operator and two of its employees pleaded guilty and were sentenced in the Emerald Industrial Magistrates Court for offences relating to failing to ensure risk to persons from quarrying operations was at an acceptable level.

Company fined $60,000 for failing in its general obligation to keep risk to an acceptable level

04 Feb 2021

On 29 January 2021, the defendant company pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for failing in its general obligation to take all reasonable steps to ensure no person was exposed to an unacceptable level of risk in relation to high pressure cleaning equipment (operating plant) that a worker was using at a gas wellsite near Clifford Queensland.

An individual was fined $5,000 and ordered to pay $2,000 in compensation for unlicensed gas work

23 Jan 2021

On 18 March 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court for carrying out unlicensed gas work and failing to comply with safety requirements by leaving an open-ended pipe uncapped. The defendant was also ordered to pay $2,000 in compensation to the injured worker.