Operators of North Goonyella coal mine in Central Queensland have been fined$10,000 for using a dangerous chemical underground.
According to The Mackay Mercury, the mine’s owners, Peabody Energy have been charged with failing to discharge a health and safety obligation under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999. The maximum penalty for the infringement is $250,000.
The Mackay Mercury says: “On July 15, 2009 two workers suffered respiratory irritation after one of the workers poured the cleaning agent, Lectra Clean, over the hot gearbox of a piece of machinery. This created fumes that were inhaled by the two co-workers.”
A principal and constituent ingredient of Lectra Clean is 1-Bromopropane.
Barrister Geraldine Dann, for the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, said North Goonyella failed to audit and review the effectiveness and implementation of its safety and health management system.
Lawyers for Peabody said “the instructions on the products had been misleading and the rating for the product itself was not changed through the ordinary process, as only a constituent part of it was altered.”
Peabody was also ordered to pay $16,000 investigation costs and $2500 professional costs.
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