An inquest into the death of Daniel Springer, who was killed in an incident at a central Queensland mine in 2017, has found it was unlikely the event could have been predicted.

Coroner Nerida Wilson delivered the findings in a Cairns court today with family watching remotely.

Mr Springer, 30, was performing maintenance on an excavator bucket in August 2017 at Goonyella Riverside Mine, near Moranbah, which involved cutting the external metal plates for removal.

The court heard when one of the curved metal plates sprang up, it struck him in the head, instantly knocking him unconscious.

He was taken to Moranbah Hospital and then on to Mackay and Townsville University Hospital for surgery but died in the following days.

Coroner Wilson said as a result of heavy use the external wear plate on the bucket had become indented, "creating built-up, stored energy or tension, and when released through the air carbon arc gouging process the plate spring-back [was] approximately 1.15 metres, striking Daniel to the head".

"There was no evidence before inquest of an event of this type having occurred before and it is unlikely that the spring-back event … could have [been] known or predicted by any person."

Worker unaware of potential risk

She said the scope of work to be performed by Mr Springer was "ill defined" and the situation Daniel was presented with was new and meant he was not aware of the risks of potential spring-back.

"Daniel himself did not have an appreciation of the risk or potential for a spring-back event of 1.15m because he had no understanding of the prevailing factors," Coroner Wilson said.

She said Mr Springer had no time to react so as to avoid the risk of injury.

"I am left in no doubt that had Daniel known and understood the risks he would not have proceeded as he did," she said.

"A lack of knowledge regarding the behaviour of the metal under such conditions did not or does not negate an obligation to ensure his safety.

"He was fatally wounded through no error on his part."

Coroner Wilson also offered criticisms of the mine's methods for tracking what buckets needed maintenance and the fact that Mr Springer had not completed hot work training at the Goonyella mine site, although she acknowledged he had completed similar training at previous locations.

Death an accident

When examining if the incident could have been anticipated, she also acknowledged there had been no previous near misses of this type or fatalities, and there was no issue of inadequate or deficient training.

She also recommended the Department of Natural Resources and Mines follow all the recommendations in the previous cause report.

Mr Springer's sister Cristi Springer told the ABC in a statement the incident continued to devastate their family.

"Although it was under four years ago it does feel like it was yesterday," she said.

"The main outcome from the inquest today that we are happy with is to have Daniel's actions cleared. His fatal accident was by no means a fault of his own."

Ms Springer said it was still frustrating to hear there would be no penalty for those whose mistakes contributed to her brother's death.

"And those who made careless decisions to think twice when doing their jobs when it comes to the safety of our miners.