17/01/2008

News Item

Worker dies at BHP Billiton's Qld mine

Investigators are on their way to a mine in remote north-west Queensland after a man was killed in an underground accident.

BHP Billiton Ltd said operations had been halted at the Cannington silver, lead and zinc mine following the accident around 1200 (AEST).

"At this time, the immediate priority for Cannington is to assist the deceased worker's family and our workforce," the company said in a statement.

"Counselling services are being made available."

Acting Queensland Mines and Energy Minister Rod Welford said an investigation team from the department's Mines Inspectorate and the Queensland Police were travelling to the site about 250km south-east of Mt Isa.

"We offer our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased miner at this time," Mr Welford said.

"This is a tragic loss of life.

"It's important to identify what went wrong - we will be finding out not only how it happened, but why it happened."

Mr Welford declined to comment further.

Australian Workers Union (AWU) assistant national secretary Ben Swan said it was not the first accident at Cannington.

"There have been several accidents, including rockfalls and the death of a 19-year-old man in December 2006," Mr Swan said.

But he said the company had declined to allow the union's national director of occupational health and safety, Dr Yossi Berger, to visit the mine.

source: http://news.theage.com.au/worker-dies-at-bhp-billitons-qld-mine/20080117-1mku.html