Worker hit by vehicle after pipe blast in underground mine

Queensland's mining regulator has issued a safety alert after a man was critically injured at a central Queensland mine.A 71-year-old male worker was treated for significant chest, facial, arm and abdominal injuries after emergency services were called to the Crinum underground mine around 10am on Saturday.He was taken to Emerald and Rockhampton hospitals before being flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on Monday morning, where he remains in a critical condition.The Gregory Crinum complex is made up of the Gregory open-cut operations and Crinum underground mine. (ABC Capricornia: Vanessa Jarrett)The mine is part of the Gregory Crinum Complex, which contains an open cut and underground mine, located 60 kilometres north-east of Emerald in the Central Highlands and owned and operated by company Sojitz Blue,Initial investigations by Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) found the worker was carrying out maintenance work on a pipe system when he was hit by a mine vehicle.RSHQ's report stated the man was standing on the front bumper of a mine vehicle, known as a drift runner, to access the pipework and as he tightened the clamp, the pipe blew, causing pressurised air to blast, creating dust and reducing visibility, and the man fell.It is then understood the operator of the drift runner, for unknown reasons, moved the vehicle, which struck the man on the ground, the regulator's report said.In the publication of its safety alert, RSHQ said before starting work on pressurised systems, coal mine operators should ensure workers isolate and depressurise systems, not stand in an area where an unplanned release of energy could occur and establish an exclusion zone.The safety alert also stated work should be undertaken using suitable work platforms, and not use mobile equipment for that purpose.RSHQ is continuing investigations into the incident, has isolated the scene and "suspended certain operations until they can be performed to an acceptable level of risk".The Mining and Energy Union's (MEU) industry safety and health representatives are also involved in the investigations."Our thoughts are first and foremost with the injured worker, his family, first responders and his workmates following this serious incident," an MEU statement said."We will continue to support our members and the broader workforce as the full circumstances of the incident are established."