The contract coal mine worker who was in the process of receiving his underground induction, was undertaking the men and materials drift familiarisation.

As part of this, he was completing his emergency egress walk when he collapsed at the top of the drift.

He suffered a cardiac arrest. No pulse was found, CPR was commenced and a defibrillator was used. He regained a pulse and consciousness thanks to the efforts of his fellow coal mine workers, according to the chief inspector of coal mines Russell Albury.

The coal mine worker was hospitalised and is now in a coronary care unit awaiting further treatment.

“All mine site senior executives are advised to review the components of their safety and health management systems in accordance with the requirements of Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2001, section 46 Health assessment,” Albury said in an alert.

“This is with regards to the ability to adequately assess the current medical conditions of existing (including coal mine workers not directly employed by the site senior executive) and potential employees, to determine if any of these medical conditions present an unacceptable level of risk when the coal mine workers are carrying out any of their tasks at the mine.

“This includes ensuring the coal mine workers are physically capable of using a self-rescuer.

“This will require the site senior executive to consider all permanent and contract employees in this process.”