We have published a causal investigation report into the catastrophic failure of an underground bulkhead seal that occurred at North Wambo Underground Coal Mine on 3 May 2020.
This failure caused a rapid loss of drilling mud from a blind bore drilling shaft. The mine had foreseen the risk of inrush and to eliminate or minimise the risk had introduced an inrush control zone underground while work was being undertaken to sink the shaft. The inrush control zone prevented workers from being exposed to the fatal hazard that ultimately occurred.
To read the full report go to our Investigation reports page (PDF, 1.22 MB).
