06/04/2025 - Appin - Strata / Rock Burst

Report

• investigation-information-release-iir25-05-workers-injured-by-suspected-gas-and-r.pdf

A rock burst occurred while operating a continuous miner in a development panel at Appin Colliery. Four workers were in the vicinity, resulting in three being partially buried.

Four mine workers were operating a continuous miner about 133 metres inbye of 11 cut-through at B heading in the Razorback Mains development panel on 6 April 2025. The heading runs parallel to a known geological structure.

Earlier, sections of the heading were developed using a grunching mining method, which is an outburst mining control method that removes persons from the face in identified high-risk areas, by progressively advancing the mining face using shotfiring. At the time of the incident the development of the heading had returned to normal mining methods using a continuous miner under the approved authority to mine.

At 2:15 am workers were positioned on the platforms of a 12CM30 continuous miner. They had completed mining the cut-out sequence and were preparing to position mesh and bolt up to the mining face. The roof and ribs in the vicinity of the workers was supported by installed bolts and mesh. An estimated 100 tonnes of sandstone roof material and gas has then abruptly ejected from above the coal seam in the heading roof, hitting and partially burying the continuous miner and 3 of the 4 workers. The fourth worker, on the left side platform of the continuous miner was hit with ejected rock material.

First responders attended the area, manually removed the ejected rock material to free the workers and provided first aid. The workers suffered various injuries including cuts, abrasions and injuries to joints. One worker suffered rib, pelvis and vertebrae fractures. All 4 workers were transported by ambulance for hospital treatment.

The Resources Regulator was notified and sent an inspector and investigators to the site, attending that same day and commencing enquiries into the incident.

Recommendations

The initial Information Release from the event includes the following Safety Information

Underground mine operators are reminded of their duty to identify hazards and manage risks to health and safety in accordance with provisions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Act 2013 and Regulations.
In particular, underground mine operators must:
• Prepare and implement a PHMP for a mine if they identify a principal mining hazard is present, including a mandatory gas outburst management plan, and a ground or strata failure management plan.
• Consult with workers when conducting the risk assessments used to prepare the plan.
• Carry out a comprehensive documented risk assessment for the PHMP for gas outbursts and ground or strata failure.
• Ensure the PHMP includes a record of the most recent risk assessment conducted in relation to the principal hazard, in accordance with clause 28(3)(d) of the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation.
• Carry out audits of the gas outburst and strata failure hazard management plans, as part of the safety management system.
• Review the PHMP for gas outburst and ground or strata failure during the course of mining, if a risk control measure is reviewed under clause 38 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation or clause 15 of the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation. Relevant circumstances to trigger a review may include a:
— significant deviation from the assumptions or expected conditions that are encountered
— change in the workplace or work environment occurs

— new hazard or risk is identified

— notifiable incident has occurred.

Other Information

The three men on the RH side of the CM had been knocked over and were on top of each other and had had the
stone material covering them from their feet to past their waist. The recovery of the three workers took around 40 mins.