A Queensland mining contractor has been fined $32,500 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for failing to arrange health assessments for two coal mine workers.
An investigation by Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) found the company breached the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 after one of its directors falsified health assessment reports and a drug and alcohol screening report.
The company pleaded guilty to failing to comply with its obligations under the Act and was sentenced on Friday, 24 October, with no conviction recorded.
RSHQ’s Director of Health Strategy and Compliance, Patrick Jensen, said the ruling reinforced the importance of protecting workers’ health and safety.
“These actions undermine health protections for workers and ultimately put lives at risk,” Jensen said.
“Medical tests ensure workers can do their job safely and are vital in the early detection of occupational diseases like black lung.
“RSHQ takes these matters very seriously and we won’t hesitate to take proportionate regulatory action where appropriate.”
Jensen said the sentencing should serve as a reminder for all operators in the sector to meet their legal obligations.
“Not only did the contractor put workers’ safety and health at risk, but the company will also now pay a $32,500 fine,” he said.
“This outcome serves as a warning that neglecting testing obligations and endangering workers’ safety and health will not be tolerated by the regulator and will prove far more costly than implementing proper medical screening.”
The company’s director was separately sentenced in Brisbane Magistrates Court in September for falsifying the medical records, a distinct offence from the company’s failure to carry out the required assessments.
