By James Fyfe and Emma Mackie
Lawyers representing the families of 29 men who died in the Pike River explosion, have challenged the theories of mines safety expert David Reece, who provided advice to the Department of Labour investigation into the disaster.
At the Royal Commission of Inquiry this morning, lawyer Richard Raymond also asked the expert witness to endorse the sending down of a camera into the mine, to establish whether or not the roof had actually collapsed and caused the explosion.
“If it showed there had been no collapse at all, that would be the end of your theory would it not?” asked Mr Raymond.
“Yes it would,” replied Mr Reece.
Mr Raymond estimated the cost of sending a camera into the mine at around $300,000; a cost he said was minimal compared to the total cost of the investigation. He said the families of the 29 men were frustrated this had not already been done.
Mr Raymond also questioned the omission from the Department of Labour report of any analysis of the footage of a rag that appeared to be “pulsing” back and forth at the end of a tunnel, just two minutes before the explosion.
The expert witness said it was noted the rag had fluttered backwards just two minutes before the blast, and although it did “appear to be something”, it was deemed “entirely arbitrary” as there was no way to attribute it to anything specific.
As theories and assumptions made by the expert panel were further challenged by counsel, a definitive conclusion as to what caused the explosion appeared unlikely.
The issue of contraband being the source of ignition was challenged by Richard Raymond, but Mr Reece insisted although it was unlikely a coke can had been the cause of ignition, other types of contraband could not be ruled out.
“We’re not discounting contraband at all, and sadly there was too much evidence of contraband in previous times in this mine,” said Mr Reece.
Lawyer for Pike River Coal and former CEO Peter Whittall, Stacey Shortall, presented evidence which suggested mine management had tried to reinforce rules about contraband in the months leading up to the disaster.
Eighty-two contraband searches were conducted at Pike River mine between April 2010 and the day of the explosion in November 2010.
The inquiry resumes on Monday at 10am.
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