QLD:Contractor dies at Qld mine

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2010
QLD:Contractor dies at Qld mine

By Angela Harper

BRISBANE, Aug 31 AAP - A man has died and three others were injured in a vehicle rollover
at a central Queensland mine site.

The four civil engineering contractors were working at Wesfarmers' Curragh mine, near
Blackwater, when the four-wheel drive crashed at 10.50am (AEST) on Tuesday, RACQ Capricorn
Rescue says.

Crewman Matthew Brandon said the man was trapped in the vehicle before being taken
to Blackwater Hospital by ambulance suffering head, pelvic and internal injuries.

The man suffered a cardiac arrest at the hospital and efforts to resuscitate him failed.

The three other contractors aged 23, 30 and 51 were treated on scene for minor injuries.

Curragh executive general manager Rod Bridges said the men - who had been employed
for the past 18 months to work on construction of water storage dams - were driving along
a flat haul road when the vehicle rolled.

"It was a very good open flat area with extremely good road conditions on a main haul
road," he told AAP.

"It's the first fatality that people can remember. We are very proud of our safety
performance on site."

Aerial photos taken by the rescue helicopter show circular tyre marks at the accident
site, but Mr Bridges denies the contractors were doing "donuts" in the vehicle prior to
the accident.

"I can confirm they were not skylarking," Mr Bridges said.

"I visited the scene. There are no donuts on the scene."

Three investigations will be carried out by police, the Department of Mines and Curragh Mine.

Police say mine inspectors are assisting the forensic crash unit with investigations
and police are preparing a report for the coroner.

The mine, which has been operating for 26 years, closed from 3pm (AEST) on Tuesday
to 6pm (AEST) Wednesday as a sign of respect to the man's family.

AAP ahe/mm/

KEYWORD: CURRAGH WRAP (PIX AVAILABLE)

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