I said words to the effect We are issuing a Directive tonight to suspend operations. No-one is to access the underground workings.” I recall Glen Britton challenging me by asking, with words to the effect of  “On what Grounds? Who would make the decision? And where was the risk?  Inspector A and I responded that it was on the ground of an unacceptable level of risk. I said that we did not have any relevant data to interpret as yet and we did not know what had caused the ignition. At the conclusion of the conversation, Mr Britton laughed and walked away.

There is a large amount of material available to the Grosvenor Inquiry that has never been tendered as evidence and has not been made public.

This includes the Statements from the Two RSHQ Mines Inspectors who attended the Grosvenor Mine on the 6th of May 2020 following the methane explosion that caused the grievous burns to 5 Miners.

For whatever reason, a decision seems to have been made by either RSHQ or the Board of Inquiry that none of the Inspectors who either Inspected and were responsible for Grosvenor Mine, or responded on the 6th of May would give evidence.

This is what the Responding Mines Inspectors put in their Statements about the conversations with RIOM Smith, DCIOCM Dobson and CIOCM Newman and how they were requested by DCIOCM Dobson to issue a  prior to issuing

Directive to Suspend Operations due to an Unacceptable level of risk. This was to prevent re-entry into the mine until an acceptable level of risk could be demonstrated.

They Inspectors then set out the response from Mr Britton from which I left out one paragraph when making the post title to keep it short enough to fit without compromising the discussion

INSPECTOR A

At approximately 6:02pm RIOM Smith called my phone and we connected the call to DCIOCM Dobson and CIOCM Newman. I recall this call ending around 6:14PM.

At approximately 6:15pm I recall Mr Britton and UMM Niehaus entering the room where Inspector B and I were stationed.

I recall Inspector of Mines B advising UMM Niehaus and Mr Britton that he was issuing a directive to suspend operations at the mine and preventing any person from entering the underground workings of the mine.

I recall Glenn Britton quickly responding and questioning in a confident manner, our reasonable belief by stating words to the effect of “On what grounds is the risk unacceptable?”

I recall Inspector B and I both responded in unison with the words “Unacceptable level of risk”, Mr Britton then words to the effect of, “On what grounds is the risk unacceptable?’

I recall Inspector B stated that “The ignition source was still not known and the gas monitoring data was still required to show the mine atmosphere was stable and safe” or words to that effect.

I recall advising Mr Britton that the DCIOM (Dobson) would be on site tomorrow and he would be accompanied by Inspector C and Inspector D. There was then a conversation about their travel arrangement and I recall Glenn Britton left the office

INSPECTOR B

After UMM Niehaus left the room, I recall Inspector A and I making a telephone call at approximately 6:02pm to RIOM Smith, DCIOCM Dobson and CIOCM Newman.

During the conversation we advised that QMRS was beginning to populate the MRAS and the mine intended to commence a risk assessment for re-entry. I recall a discussion took place around issuing a Directive.

DCIOCM Dobson requested I issue a Directive to Suspend Operations due to an Unacceptable level of risk. This was to prevent re-entry into the mine until an acceptable level of risk could be demonstrated.

The Directive was to be issued verbally before we left site. The Mine Record Entry and written Directive would be issued the following day after review by RIOM Smith.

The telephone call ended at approximately 6:14pm.

At approximately 6:15pm I recall Glen Britton and UMM Niehaus entering the room where Inspector A and I were based. I verbally issued the Directive suspending operations at the mine and preventing any person from entering the underground working of the mine to Glen Britton and UMM Niehaus.

I said words to the effect

We are issuing a Directive tonight to suspend operations. No-one is to access the underground workings.”

I recall Glen Britton challenging me by asking, with words to the effect of 

“On what Grounds? Who would make the decision? And where was the risk?

 Inspector A and I responded that it was on the ground of an unacceptable level of risk.

I said that we did not have any relevant data to interpret as yet and we did not know what had caused the ignition.

Inspector A stated the Deputy Chief would be on site the next day and would be accompanied by Inspector C and Inspector D. The two Inspectors would be leaving Mackay around 5 am and the Deputy Chief would not be on site until late that evening due to unavailability of flights.

At the conclusion of the conversation, Mr Britton laughed and walked away.

I recall a conversation between Inspector A and Glen Britton about the travel arrangements and the expected arrival of DCIOCM Dobson, Inspector C and Inspector D at the mine site the next day.

I recall Glen Britton leaving the office after that conversation.