On 10 August 2021, Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) referred to the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor (OWHSP) a brief of evidence relating to its investigation of an explosion at the Grosvenor coal mine at Moranbah, in which multiple coal mine workers were seriously injured.
The potential causes of the incident were considered by the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry, which released its final report on 31 May 2021. That report is publicly available.
The referral to the OWHSP related to an alleged windblast from within the goaf and a subsequent explosion on the longwall face, in which the coal mine workers were injured.
The Work Health and Safety Prosecutor, Mr Aaron Guilfoyle, has determined not to commence any prosecution in relation to the referral.
“A brief of evidence was referred to the OWHSP by RSHQ following a comprehensive investigation into the potential causes of the incident, led by RSHQ’s Coal Mining Inspectorate,” Mr Guilfoyle said.
“Having assessed the brief of evidence against the Guidelines of the Director of Public Prosecutions, I am not satisfied there exists a reasonable prospect of securing a conviction against any of the identified duty holders under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999.”
Media contact: enquiries@owhsp.qld.gov.au