Mine-death report diluted says widow

Valma McGowan says early version of the coroner's report were far more critical of the Department of Labour. Photo / Simon Baker

The widow of an underground miner killed in a flash flood says a coroner's report falls well short in its criticism of the Department of Labour.

Valma McGowan maintains the department has consistently ducked for cover over her husband, Robert James McGowan, 39, who died in Black Reef Mine's Tiller mine near Greymouth in March 2006 when a tunnel was washed out from flooded adjoining mine workings.

Mine manager Gary Haddow clung to a peg in the wall to survive and was trapped underground for several hours before being rescued.

In the days before the accident, the two men used explosives and shovelling "completely oblivious to the awful fate about to engulf them", said a report released by coroner Peter Roselli.

The report found Black Reef had not carried out an instrument survey for 10 years. That was a shocking state of affairs, Mr Roselli said.

"My view is that when men are employed working in the bowels of the earth in the blackness and wetness of an underground coal mine, with only a small light for each person, they should be afforded the protection of a recent instrument survey."

Mr Roselli questioned why the Department of Labour had not enforced survey checks. It had told him it had not required small mines, such as Tiller, to do regular instrument surveys.

Mrs McGowan told the Weekend Herald she had seen earlier versions of the coroner's findings which were far more critical of the department, and the final report was "watered down something chronic".

"I think the Labour Department is trying to protect themselves, because they know I have a claim for exemplary damages against them."

As a result of Mr McGowan's death, the department had changed its policy and now enforced such surveys.

Mr Roselli was pleased by the change, but "sadly it has come too late".

Department spokeswoman Lesley Haines accepted that Mr McGowan's death was preventable. "It is important that the mining industry and the department learn from this coroner's report in order to make mining safer.

"The department prosecuted the owner and the manager of the mine for failing to meet their responsibilities under the act."

- additional reporting by NZPA