Workers’ compensation in the mining industry Queensland

Mining is high-risk work. Heavy plant, confined spaces, blasting, long shifts and remote sites all increase the chance of accidents and injuries. If you’re injured in a Queensland mine or quarry, you can claim workers’ compensation through WorkCover Queensland or your employer if it is a self-insurer (e.g., BHP). 

Why mining injuries are different

• Complex worksites with multiple contractors and overlapping safety duties;
• High-energy hazards, including heavy vehicles, conveyors, crushers, explosives and electrical systems;
• Cumulative exposures to dust, noise, vibration and heat;
• Remote locations can lead to delayed medical care and evacuation logistics, subsequently worsening outcomes.

Common injuries and illnesses in mining

• Musculoskeletal injuries from manual handling, awkward postures and vibration;
• Crush, pinch and amputation injuries around mobile and fixed plant;
• Head and spinal trauma from vehicle rollovers or falls;
• Burns and electrical injuries;
• Hearing loss (industrial deafness) and tinnitus;
• Dust-related conditions such as silica-related disease and black lung disease;
• Psychological injuries linked to fatigue (over-work from needing to drive long distances etc), critical incidents and remote rosters.

Additional complexities with FIFO workers

FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) means travelling to a remote site for blocks of work and living on-site for extended periods. 

Unique issues related to workers’ compensation claims for FIFO workers include:

• fatigue from extended rosters and 12-hour shifts;
• incidents in on-site accommodation, on-site buses or during on-site standby – you may still be covered if the injury arises out of or in the course of employment (i.e. not strictly “while working”);
• access to timely treatment, suitable duties and rehabilitation when you return home between shifts;
• coordination challenges between site medicals, local GPs and specialist providers.

How a workers’ compensation lawyer with mining industry experience can help

• We understand mining legislation, site procedures and job roles, from operators and fitters to shotfirers and electricians;
• We know how to gather the right evidence quickly – incident reports, supervisor notes, JSEAs/JSAs (Job Safety Analysis documents), maintenance logs, and CCTV;
• We will analyse the impact of potentially fragmented treatment when moving from on-site to home between shifts.

What benefits are payable after a successful workers’ compensation claim?

If you’re injured at work in Queensland and your workers’ compensation claim is accepted, you may be entitled to the following benefits:

• Weekly payments to cover loss of wages;
• Medical expenses related to your workplace injury;
• Lump sum compensation due to permanent impairment; and
• Travel expenses for attending medical appointments related to your injury.

In addition to the above statutory entitlements, workers who are injured due to the negligence of another person or entity (often the employer) may also be entitled to bring a common law damages claim.

Where a worker passes away due to a workplace accident, death benefits are payable to the worker’s dependents (also, funeral expenses are met regardless of whether there are any dependants).

Time limits

Ordinarily, you must lodge your workers’ compensation claim within six (6) months of any entitlement to compensation. Applications outside this timeframe may be considered, but are very rarely accepted by WorkCover/self-insurers.

Speak to a Queensland workers’ compensation lawyer

Cameron Hall is a Queensland Law Society Accredited Personal Injury Specialist with more than three decades of dedicated experience helping injured workers recover the compensation they deserve.

Contact us for a no-obligation, free initial appointment. It costs you nothing to find out where you stand.