A hardworking dad has died in a workplace accident at a coal mine in central Queensland. 

Emergency services attended QCoal’s Byerwen mine, about 1000km north of Brisbane in the coal-rich Bowen Basin, early Saturday morning on reports Mr Schloss had been struck by a crane. 

The 48-year-old died at the scene. 

He is survived by his wife and five children.

‘The QCoal family has suffered a devastating loss with the death of Chris Schloss in an incident at the Byerwen Mine on Saturday,’ QCoal group executive James Black said in a statement.

‘Chris has been part of the QCoal family for many years and has been integral in developing Byerwen since its launch.

‘Our thoughts are with Chris’ wife Amanda, his children and all their family at this terrible time.

‘The death of such a long-serving, senior and well-loved member of the QCoal team has obviously left us shocked.

‘His family is coming to terms with the worst news you can possibly hear, and we are helping them through this tragedy.’

Chris Schloss, 48, died following an accident with a crane at the Byerwen Mine infrastructure site at Suttor, west of Mackay on Saturday morning

Resources Safety and Health Queensland is investigating the fatality.

‘Although it is too early to identify a cause of the incident, initial reports indicate it involved a pick and carry crane,’ the safety body said on Saturday.

‘An RSHQ coal inspector and an investigator from our Serious Incident Investigation Unit are attending the scene.

‘Our thoughts are with the worker’s family, friends and colleagues today.

‘RSHQ has placed a heavy focus on the safety around pick and carry cranes, particularly in the past 12 months, through industry talks, safety alerts and an animation to increase education and understanding.’

Mr Schloss formed a part of QCoal’s Tell Them Where To Go campaign against the Queensland government, which is pushing the company to relocate its workforce from the on-site camp to the town of Glenden, about 45 minutes away.

The company says the move threatens the jobs of up to 800 Central Queensland mine workers.

‘Chris was an active member of our current campaign around preserving the Byerwen camp and his family have asked that his image and words not be removed as he felt strongly about the issue and they want to honour his legacy,’ Mr Black said.