Company's safety breach cost two miners their lives, court hears

Wednesday, 9 Nov 2016 12:28:40 | Damian McIntyre

LtoR Alistair Lucas and Craig Gleeson, who died in a mining accident at the Mount Lyell mine in Queenstown, Tasmania. (Supplied)

A prosecutor has criticised the safety standards of the operator of a Tasmanian copper mine in relation to the deaths of two workers in 2013.

Copper Mines of Tasmania (CMT) has previously pleaded guilty to failing to maintain a safe workplace.

During sentencing submissions, prosecutor Sam Thompson said it was a serious safety breach and the accident could have been avoided.

He said it was a case where the mine operator had an unsafe system of work, not a case where workers were disobedient.

The court heard the platform the men were working from was built from King Billy pine.

Mr Thompson said the timber was not considered a construction material because of its lack of strength.

He argued CMT did not assess the work platform prior to the accident.

"The structural integrity of the platform was considered poor," Mr Thompson said.

Defence lawyer Chris Gunson SC told the court CMT "unreservedly apologises for the deaths of Mr Gleeson and Mr Lucas".

Victim impact statements from the men's families were presented to magistrate Tamara Jago, who is expected to hand down a sentence at a late date.

The company faces a maximum penalty of $1.5 million.

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