An Anglo American spokesman told ILN the incident happened at about 2am on January 23, resulting in the worker sustaining a fracture injury to his arm.

The worker received immediate medical attention and was then airlifted to hospital.

“The safety of our employees is our number one priority,” the spokesman said. “The injured employee is receiving our full support.”

While the cause of the injury has not been officially confirmed, a Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation spokesman said there were initial reports that the worker suffered the injury when his arm became caught in a mine ventilation door.

Anglo and the Queensland government Mines Inspectorate are now investigating the incident.

The DEEDI spokesman gave ILN details about Grasstree’s ventilation doors.

“In this particular case there are two sets of steel double doors spaced about 15m apart that form an airlock to allow men and machinery to pass from one part of a ventilation circuit to another (at different ventilation pressure) without causing a short circuit of the ventilation from high to low pressure.”