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How mining tragedies like Moranbah can impact entire communities, and haunt families
ABC Tropical North / By Melissa Maddison and Ollie Wykeham Posted 5d ago, updated 3d ago
Since the Moranbah mine accident, the community has called for greater support in crisis recovery. (SuppLied: Isaac Regional Council)
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As word spread of a major incident in the coal mining industry in Queensland, dozens of families waited anxiously to hear if their loved ones were safe.
Last Wednesday, five men received significant burns when gas ignited at the Grosvenor Mine, near Moranbah in the Bowen Basin.
They remain in a Brisbane hospital, with four in a critical condition.
The ABC interviewed two women^bothjyive^jifjwfters..a^ mothers of tvvo children, who requeste^’anonymity foTfear their husbands'jobs might be jeopardised by speaking out.
One woman found the news of the blast upsetting — her husband worked at the same mine, but was not on shift that day.
"Sending him to work underground is pretty nerve-racking on a normal day," she said. . __ 'li-L ta__ "When you hear there's been an incident at the mine they work at, it makes it 10 times worse.
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The mother of two said the incident had made her family, and many others, A n $ ? reconsider working in the industry.
"My husband and I have sat down and spoken about the incident and he's spoken about whether he wants to go back underground," she said.
i
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The Moranbah Miners Memorial is a tribute to the 13 miners who died in the town's coal fields over the past 50 years. (ABC Tropical North: Holly Richardson)
Their concerns about the risks involved with underground mining are shared by other families.
"My husband works on the surface and it's still scary, but not as scary if he was underground," another woman said.
"I'm okay with him being with mining and happy that he's above ground.
"I've always said that I don't want him to go underground. He's been offered it and I've said no.
"It might be an extra $50,000 a year, but I'd rather have him home."
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The anxious wait
Those with loved ones in the mining industry said the minutes after news breaks of an incident are terrifying.
"It's very scary," the second woman said.
"We always try and find out quickly which mine it is, and if our partners, husbands or friends are on shift
"Then you find out they're okay — even if it's not your family member, it could be a friend or someone you know."
For former paramedic, Ness Murison, the sound of sirens and then planes and helicopters sends a chill down her spine.
"You have your eyes wide open, you put your hand on your heart and hope that they wiLL puLL through and survive," she said.
The RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter en route to "There's then a feeling of comradery, Moranbah after a mine explosion. (Supplied: RACQ CQ Rescue) there’s a feeling of despair and sadness.
"Hearing the sirens does trigger things, and I know how significant those injuries would be — I know what significant burns look like."
The ripple effect
The coal mining sector and the surrounding communities are tight-knit, with many describing them as being more like a family.
Anne Baker, Mayor of the Isaac region, which is home to 26 coal mines, said an event like the explosion at the Grosvenor Mine affects everyone.
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Councillor Baker said the night of the incident was tough for the community.
"My home is in the flight path so when the [aeromedicaL] planes went over, it was an extremely eerie and sick feeling to know something has happened so close to our community," she said.
"Anyone that comes into our region is part of our community, part of our family, and there's no more strength than that in a mining community."
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Moranbah's memorial pays tribute to all the miners who tragically died in accidents on the job. (ABC Tropical North: Holly Richardson)
Councillor Baker said it put sharp focus on the dangers faced by those working in the sector.
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"All miners should feel safe and all families should expect nothing less than their loved ones going to work and to come home safely," she said.
"Their families should not be sitting at home wondering if 'that phone call is going to come to my house tonight?'."
Community support
The recent incident highlighted the strength of mining communities.
Geoff and Ness Murison moved to Moranbah in 2012 and initially planned to stay there for about a year, but they fell in love with the area.
"One year turned into two, and then eight and a bit, and this is our home now," Mr Murison said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-14/mining-tragedies-take-toli-on-whole-family-and-community/12241496 How mining tragedies iike Moranbah can impact entire communities, and haunt famiiies - ABC News 19/5/20, 10:03 am
Grosvenor coaL mine early on May 7, the day after the explosion. (ABC News: jemima Burt)
"We Love the sense of community and support — and when something Like this happens, it shakes us, rocks us, frightens us.
Mr Murison said the effects were not just felt by those that worked at the mine.
"It couLd be someone we know, our neighbour knows," he said.
"You don't have to be a mining business or a coaL miner to be affected by this."
Quick response
In an effort to help the community deal If you or anyone you know https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-14/mining-tragedies-take-toii-on-whoie-family-and-community/12241496 Page 7 of 15 How mining'tragedies iike Moranbah can impact entire communities, and haunt families - ABC News 19/5/20, 10:03 am
with the incident. Lifeline has set up a needs help: community outreach service. Lifeline on 131114
The Murisons, who own and Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 operate Greatest Version Strength gym in the town, have also started offering free MensLine Australia on 1300 'walk and talk' sessions to help people 789 978 process what happened. Suicide Call Back Service on "We've put it out there as a casual thing ... 1300 659 467 come for a walk and have a chinwag," Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 Ms Murison said. Headspace on 1800 650 890 "This isn't about counselling, although that's the underlying current. It's just ReachOut at au.reachout.com about getting out and having a walk and a Care Leavers Australasia chitchat. Network (CLAN) on 1800 008 "If it comes up, it comes up." 774
She said in the last week there had been a strong push to let people know there was help available.
"We already have 15 volunteers who've said they'll walk with those who want to take up the offer," Ms Murison said.
"No matter how many phone calls we get, we'll make sure we can accommodate those people."
Shared experience
The wife of a Grosvenor Mine worker said the ability for mining families to chat with someone with an understanding of the sector would be very helpful.
"To have someone to talk to could be very beneficial and it makes a difference, having people that understand," she said.
Mayor Anne Baker said there had already been a strong response to the offer of
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help and recognition the Impact of the incident could be far-reaching.
"There is a willingness to engage in a genuine conversation about our state of mind," she said
"This is what makes us a resilient community — that we Heavy mining machinery is seen at Grosvenor coaL can be there for each other." mine at Moranbah in central Queensland's Bowen Basin. (Supplied)
Posted 5d ago, updated 3d ago
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If you need someone to talk to, call:
Lifeline on 13 1114
Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
Headspace on 1800 650 890
QLife on 1800 184 527
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https;//www.abc. net.au/news/2020-05-14/mining-tragedies-take-toll-on-whole-family-and-community/12241496 Page 9 of 15 Moranbah Coal mine explosion to be investigated by 'expert' independent board of inquiry - ABC News 19/5/20, 10:04 am
Moranbah coal mine explosion to be investigated by 'expert' independent board of inquiry
By Stephanie ZiLLman Posted n May 2020, updated 11 May 2020
The explosion criticaLLy injured five workers, who remain in hospital in Brisbane. (Supplied)
An indenendent oaneL of exoerts wiLL be aooointed to examine what Led to a oas https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-11/independent-inquiry-investigate-moranbah-mine-explosion-qld/12235272 Page 1 of 11 Moranbah coal mine explosion to be investigated by 'expert' independent board of inquiry - ABC News 19/5/20, 10:04 am
explosion at the Anglo-American Grosvenor coal mine near Moranbah, south-west of Mackay in North Queensland Last week.
The explosion critically injured five workers, who remain in hospital in Key points: Brisbane. The board of inquiry is to Queensland Minister for Mines and Energy recommend a suite of reforms Dr Anthony Lynham said he expected the that would significantly improve board of inquiry to recommend a suite of worker safety reforms that would significantly improve worker safety. There has been seven deaths at mine sites since 2017, including "An underground gas explosion as we saw five since the start of 2019 Last week is simply unacceptable in the 21st century," Dr Lynham said. It is expected the board would return an interim report by "Queensland has the world's toughest August mine health and safety laws and this Government has made sweeping reforms to those Laws and there's more to come."
Short list of panel members
Dr Lynham faced caLLs to resign in recent days foLLowing the Latest incident.
There have been seven deaths at mine sites since 2017, including five since the start of 2019.
Dr Lynham said a former judge or Queen's Counsel would be appointed to head up the board of inquiry and the rest of the panel would be experts in mine safety.
He said a shortlist of panel members was being considered, along with the terms of reference.
The inquiry will conduct public hearings, have the power to call witnesses and have a broader remit of powers than the current inspectors.
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WATCH
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Five men burnt in a mine explosion at Moranbah transported by Lifeflight and Royal Flying Doctor Service planes to Brisbane
Dr Lynham said his department was already employing more mining inspectors than it had before, and pointed to the state's recent industrial manslaughter legislation as proof the Government was tough on worker safety.
"Nevertheless, we've had an underground gas explosion that's put five mine workers in hospital," he said.
The Opposition has been calling for a parliamentary inquiry, so it also has the power to ask questions around worker safety.
"1 want experts on my inquiry — 1 don't want politicians, I want world-leading experts," Dr Lynham said.
He said he expected the board would return an interim report by August, with a final report to follow on a date yet to be determined.
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Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive officer Ian Macfarlane welcomed the announcement and called on the sector to support it.
"No-one should pre-empt the findings of the inquiry or the Mines Inspectorate investigation already underway," Mr Macfarlane said.
He said the inquiry should help to find answers as quickly as possible.
"The company and the industry want to know what happened in this incident and doing an inquiry is the quickest way to achieve that," he said.
"A parliamentary inquiry, on the other hand, will take far too long and not be conducted by experts.
"This is a specific incident and it requires a specific investigation and we're sure that the inquiry will come up with the answers in terms of what caused this incident"
Mr Macfarlane said there was a sombre mood in the industry.
"The industry is very close and as a whole has felt the impact of this, and our thoughts and prayers go out not only to those recovering in hospital but also to their families and close friends," he said.
He said there was an "extensive inquiry" into a range of issues in the resources and mining industry in the past 18 months, which unions, mineral companies and the Government had input on.
Union calls for industry overhaul
Steve Smyth, Queensland's president of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), said the union was pleased to know the incident would be examined by a panel of experts.
"It's something that we think is required and clearly there's still a bit of work to be done looking at terms of reference, scope and who's going to be on it and what it all means, but we certainly welcome the announcement of it and being a part of it," he said.
He said this type of inquiry was the best way to uncover exactly what happened.
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"We're having too many incidents in the industry," he said.
"Something's got to happen, and generally that message is being reflected right across the industry, not just in the underground sector but the open-cut sector as well."
"There's still quite a lot of shock to be honest... generally there are a lot of unknowns about how did it happen, why did it happen."
"We've had a tough time and workers have lost their lives and workers are asking a lot of questions and we do need to have some answers for these workers."
"I think we're at a point where something's got to happen — what we're doing is not working.
"There needs to be a deep dive into actually what's happening in mining and we need to look at everything from the employment practices, to the work practices, to what people are doing and how people feel.
"We need to be open and honest... because we can't continue ... having this type of carnage.
"There's got to be a board that's open and transparent and is prepared to take action at the end of it and implement the outcomes."
Posted n May 2020, updated 11 May 2020
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