Workers have been told to return to a central Queensland mine, with operations set to resume amid an investigation into a second fatality at the site in weeks.
The industry regulator has given the green light for work to re-start at Byerwen coal mine at Suttor, west of Mackay, provided operators can maintain a safe environment.
Operations had been suspended after a worker died when a haul truck and light vehicle collided on August 22.
It marked the second fatality at the Bowen Basin site this month following the death of 48-year-old Chris Schloss in a crane incident about three weeks ago.
Contractor Macmahon said workers had been told to return to the mine on Wednesday but it was still waiting on regulatory approval to recommence operations.
Mine owners - Brisbane-based QCoal in a joint venture with Japan’s JFE Steel - opted to suspend operations at the mine, with police handing over the site to the industry regulator's inspectors.
Industry regulator Resources Safety and Health Queensland then took the "extra step" to suspend the use of heavy vehicles at the mine.
However the regulator late on Tuesday said the directive had been lifted.
"As of this afternoon, Byerwen coal mine is able to resume activities provided it can maintain a safe operating environment," a Resources Safety and Health Queensland statement said.
"The RSHQ inspector who issued the directive to suspend the use of heavy vehicles is satisfied the requirements have been met."
The regulator said the investigation into the fatality was ongoing.
"We can also confirm that the incident involved an interaction between a light vehicle and a haul truck," it said.
"Our investigation will look at what caused this interaction."
Macmahon said it was continuing to fully cooperate with all relevant authorities and their investigations to understand what had occurred in more detail.
"Based on current information, Macmahon understands the loaded dump truck was ascending the ramp leading out of the pit at low speed when the light vehicle approached from behind and ran into the rear of the dump truck," its statement said.
Mining and Energy Union said workers were still coming to terms with Mr Schloss' death and were "traumatised" by the latest incident.
"This is a tragic and sad incident which has impacted our whole team," Macmahon managing director and CEO Michael Finnegan said in a statement.
"We continue to support our people, especially friends and family of our deceased colleague, as well as the dump truck operator."
Macmahon has been awarded the mining contract at Byerwen since it was established in 2017.
