Following inquiries into the roof fall, deficiencies were found with the management of the strata monitoring at the site.

Up to 30% of the strata monitoring devices were not operable for various reasons, and a neighbouring site reported up to 40% of similar devices not operable.

People tasked with using these devices could not tell whether they were in good operating condition or not.

Operators of coal mines should review their risk and controls for strata management with particular emphasis on:

• the type of SMD used
• the suitability of the SMD for the required areas of operation
• the process of recording information relevant to the SMD
• training underground workers in the installation, use and interpretation of SMDs
• training underground miners to determining if a SMD is faulty
• creating trigger action response plans relating to strata management and SMDs
• repair and replacement management of SMDs

The mine where the fall occurred was working normally when the roof fell on a main travel roadway within the mine, disrupting service and initiating an evacuation.

All personnel were accounted for and there were no injuries.