Mine safety: BHP’s ‘production first’ mandate exposed

CFMEU Mining and Energy

A BHP investigation into a serious incident in 2018 where a dozer operator became submerged and trapped in water at Peak Downs coal mine noted the company had a mandate to ‘keep trucks running to meet production targets’ despite excess water creating dangerous work conditions.

In an incident reported in today’s Australian newspaper, a dozer operator was working in 700mm of water when the dozer fell into a void the operator was unaware of. The operator was submerged and trapped before being rescued by workmates who smashed the windows of the vehicle. He was left injured and traumatised.

Six months later, mineworker Allan Houston died in similar circumstances at BHP’s nearby Saraji mine when the dozer he was operating fell down an embankment landing in muddy water, where he became trapped and drowned.

Despite the incident and investigation six months earlier, the lessons had clearly not been learned and communicated between BHP mines, said CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland President Stephen Smyth.

BHP’s report to the Mines Inspector about the Peak Downs incident notes that time had not been spent to ‘dewater’ the area the dozers were operating in and that ‘there is a mandate to keep trucks running to meet production’ and ‘there is an asset requirement to have this mandate’.

“BHP mineworkers know that production targets are put ahead of their safety but it’s still shocking to see it in black and white,” said Mr Smyth.

“When Allan died, there weren’t adequate protocols in place for working around water. The fact that there was a near miss involving water just six months earlier at another BHP mine shows they have really dropped the ball on safety.

“BHP says safety comes first, but they’re just empty words. It’s time to hold mining executives to account for this approach that is injuring and killing workers.”

/Public Release.