Queensland’s workplace safety regulators have launched a full-scale investigation after alarming allegations that underground workers at the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project narrowly escaped injury when explosives were detonated unexpectedly beneath them.

What happened?

• On February 23rd, three night shift workers 300 metres underground reportedly felt tremors and heard an explosion. They were later informed that blasting had occurred just 30 metres below their location.
• The CFMEU union, representing the workers, expressed serious concerns, stating the incident left the employees “mentally shaken up.”

Investigations underway

• Both Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) are conducting inquiries.
• Initial reports from RSHQ indicate that mandated safety clearance procedures before blasting were “not effective.”
• Blasting operations were temporarily suspended while safety controls were reviewed and implemented.

WHSQ responds to criticisms

• WHSQ received an anonymous complaint on February 26th and immediately referred the matter to RSHQ as the lead investigating body.
• WHSQ firmly denies accusations of inaction, stating concerns about the workers’ psychological well-being are being addressed and will be monitored.

Spotlight on safety practices

This incident raises significant questions about safety protocols at the Kidston project, with inspectors set to visit the site this week for further investigation. Key issues likely to be examined include:

• Breakdown in communication: Why were underground workers not properly cleared from the blast zone?
• Psychological impact: What support is being provided to the affected workers, and how are the risks of long-term trauma being managed?
• Systemic flaws: Does this incident expose wider safety gaps in the project’s procedures?

The development of the Kidston Project

The 250MW Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project, developed by Genex Power, is an important renewable energy development utilising a disused gold mine. This incident highlights that even with sustainable energy goals, worker safety must remain the absolute top priority.