Fatality involving lifting using a pick and carry crane

What happened?

On Saturday 3 August 2024, a coal mine worker suffered fatal injuries when struck by the boom of a pick and carry crane. Queensland Police Service attended the scene before releasing it to Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) to commence an investigation into the incident.

How did it happen?

An investigation into this incident is ongoing. It’s believed coal mine workers were in the process of repositioning a donga using a pick and carry crane. During lifting operations, the pick and carry crane rolled over. The toppling crane-boom struck and fatally injured a coal mine worker.

Recommendations

RSHQ is unable to provide specific recommendations relating to this incident while it is under investigation.

However, previous incidents involving pick and carry cranes revealed recurrent issues, learnings and recommendations that should be considered at sites that use this equipment. These include:

Have ‘no go zones’ or ‘exclusion zones’ in place for works around pick and carry cranes.
Avoid travelling loaded pick and carry cranes across slopes or uneven ground as these could destabilise the crane or load.
Ensure operators are trained and experienced and can demonstrate details of the cranes limitations, use of derating charts and monitoring systems.
Review the use of crane load monitoring systems and consider fitting if not currently installed.
Ensure the training and assessment material for operators includes the understanding of the use and function of the load monitoring systems, alarms, and system triggers.
Review whether a pick and carry crane is the right machinery for lifting.
Review site authorisation processes for lifting and cranage.
Conduct checks to confirm the field effectiveness of identified lifting controls.

RSHQ recommends all mine site personnel read Safety Bulletins 199 and 218 which relate to pick and carry cranes and include an animation.

Additional recommendations from the Queensland Mines Inspectorate may be published during and following the investigation into this incident.

References and further information

Authorised by Jacques le Roux - chief-inspector-coal

Contact: RSHQ Coal Inspectorate, QldMinesInspectorate@rshq.qld.gov.au

Issued by Resources Safety & Health Queensland

Safety: This information is a guide only and is issued to promote safety through experience. It is not to be taken as a statement of law and must not be construed to waive or modify any legal obligation.

Placement: Place this announcement on noticeboards and ensure all relevant people in your organisation receive a copy.

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All information on this page (Fatality involving lifting using a pick and carry crane - https://www.rshq.qld.gov.au/safety-and-health-alerts/mines/fatality-involving-lifting-using-a-pick-and-carry-crane) is correct as of time of printing (Nov 5, 2026 11:36 pm).