Good luck rather than good management is why there have been no fatal incidents in the Queensland coal sector this year, according to the miners' union.

An analysis of "significant incidents" since the start of 2023 shows worker safety has been seriously compromised numerous times.

The ABC has seen the Mining and Energy Union (MEU) audit, entitled Significant Incidents of the Year to 11 June 2023, that was sent to Queensland's Resources Minister Scott Stewart.

It details 54 "serious incidents" across the state over the last six months, and the union has called for an urgent meeting with the Resources Minister.

The union's Stephen Smyth says it is not just the number of incidents that is concerning but their nature.

In the open-cut or surface coal industry, most of the incidents include heavy machinery sliding down shelves or bund walls and vehicle fires and collisions.

"One issue that really concerns us is the loss of control [of equipment]," Mr Smyth said.

"We struggle to understand how a lot of these mines are managing hazards and risks.

"While we could say there has been an increase in the number employees, it's the type and severity of incidents that are really, really concerning.

History repeating

The union audit shows many similarities between incidents.

Mr Smyth says of particular concern are the incidents involving dozers.

In at least two incidents, dozers collided with parked light vehicles, and in several other incidents, machinery suffered an "uncontrolled movement' and ended up in water.

In January, during a night shift, a dozer at the Curragh Mine backed into a body of water, with the worker able to get out.

In March, an excavator became bogged and partially sank at the Byerwen Mine, with other machinery required to drag it out.

"We've got dozers going into bodies of water – a couple of weeks ago there was another one at Coppabella – and what have we learned?" Mr Smyth said.

Productivity over safety: union

Mr Smyth said there were concerns productivity was being put ahead of safety, pointing to night-time operations as an example.

"Some dozer work … should be done in daylight so that people can actually see what they're doing and get a better understanding of the hazards around an area," he said.

"You're limited by the visibility from a lighting plant or light on your piece of machinery.

"You can't see if a bench is starting to give way or a strata is starting to fail."

Mr Smyth says lessons need to be learnt from the incidents.

In a statement, the Resources Minister says increased reporting of near misses should provide confidence that mines are identifying corrective actions to prevent future accidents.

He said the industry must embrace a reporting culture without fear of reprisals.

Industry focus

Independent regulator Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) recently issued an alert about the rate of High Potential Incidents (HPIs) at surface mines in the state.

Across eight days in May, there were five HPIs, and RSHQ instructed senior site executives to examine and check their controls.

It also encouraged senior managers to look at the root cause of the incidents and challenge long-held beliefs about causation.

In 2021, the industry underwent a series of so-called "safety resets".

Those followed a landmark review of the 47 fatal incidents in Queensland mines and quarries between 2000 and 2019.

The review found that fatalities were usually caused by everyday factors, including inadequate training or supervision.