Mineral Mines & Quarries Inspectorate | Alert | No.467 V 1 | 06 January 2026

Fall of ground causing fatality at small-scale gold mine

Summary

• A miner was fatally injured in an incident at a small-scale gold mine on Friday, 2 January 2026.
• Initial information suggests the miner was struck by a fall of ground from the face of an excavation.
• Investigations are ongoing.

Issue Explained

• The miner was working alone at a remote, small-scale gold mine in Central Queensland, operating an excavator to dig into the crest of a hill.
• The miner had exited the excavator and was standing at the front of the excavator when a fall of ground occurred from the face.
• A large rock dislodged during the fall of ground and struck and seriously injured his lower left leg.
• The miner extricated himself and travelled in a light vehicle to a neighbouring property to seek assistance.
• Residents and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) personnel provided aid, but tragically the miner later succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

Learnings

• All obligation holders should assess and mitigate associated hazards and risks to workers following this tragic event. Some considerations are set out below.
• Before entering or approaching any excavation, workers should assess the risk of wall collapse or falling material. A visual inspection checklist can assist in identifying slope stability hazards and potential failure mechanisms.
• Where there is any risk of collapse, Site Senior Executives (SSEs) should apply effective controls such as benching, battering or ground support and treat benching or battering as mandatory once excavations reach 1.5m depth.
• Ensure excavation design includes safe slope geometry (bench height, angle, width, overall slope). Avoid unplanned excavation.
• Heavy rainfall significantly increases the likelihood of slope failure and sites must ensure effective drainage is maintained so slopes remain free of water flow, pooling, and saturation.
• Apply operational good practices and be sure to:
  • Use catch bunds and work from behind them.
  • Maintain safe standoff distances and exclusion zones.
  • Remove hazards where safe (e.g. scaling).
  • Position excavator cabs away from the face where possible.
• Seek geotechnical advice from a competent specialist when required.
• If working alone is unavoidable, a robust working alone procedure should be in place that includes regular, scheduled check-ins.
• All sites should always ensure effective communication systems are in place so workers can raise an alarm in the event of an accident or emergency.

References and further information

• Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2017 – Section 44
• Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999
• Safety Alert #408 – Impact of flooding on slope stability at mines and quarries