Miner Travis Brown, 24, found guilty on two counts relating to smoking underground and fined $11,000 "Miners %&*# themselves when they found him with cigarettes and a lighter," said CFMEU Steve Smyth. A KIWI contractor suspected of smoking in one of the gassiest underground mines in Queensland was lucky to have been disciplined in court and not by irate miners, say unionists. Forty to 50 men were underground when the incident occurred in April last year at the North Goonyella coal mine near Moranbah. Travis Brown, 24, was found guilty on two counts relating to smoking underground and fined $11,000 in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court. Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union Steve Smyth said although it was a significant fine, the ramifications of an explosion in such a situation were horrendous. "Miners %&*# themselves when they found him with cigarettes and a lighter," he said. He's lucky he got out of there because a lot of people wanted to take matters into their own hands. No one actually saw him smoking but they smelt smoke and he admitted to it when challenged. He had underground experience and should have known better. It's amazing to think someone could be so stupid. Mr Smyth said full time miners were well trained in safety and Brown was not working at the coal face. North Goonyella and Grasstree at Middlemount were considered the two hottest mines in the state, in terms of the amount of methane they produced. Methane ignition has caused some of the world's worst coal mine disasters. Mr Smyth said the union wanted to see a return to a system abandoned more than a decade ago under which miners had to have two years experience before they were allowed to work at or near the coal face. This allowed experienced miners to mentor young employees coming through, rather than the three-month period currently allowed for. "When something like this happens, it shows how easily a major tragedy can occur," he said. It's not like this was just a simple mistake. Mr Smyth said he was unsure whether the penalties were appropriate but there was an argument that such a serious breach should see a worker banned from going underground again. A Mines Department spokesman said the prosecution reinforced the necessity for all workers to comply fully with mining safety laws. "Underground coal mines are difficult working environments at the best of times," he said. The presence of combustible gases and coal dust means there is a potential for fire or explosion if strict safety procedures are not followed to the letter. This person, through his actions, was not only endangering himself but the lives of his fellow mine workers. Although being fined, no conviction was recorded by the court. All mines have a strict zero tolerance on drinking and smoking. The maximum penalty is $50,000 or six months in prison. A total of 29 miners died at Pike River in NZ two years ago when methane exploded. In 1972, the Box Flat Colliery at Ipswich exploded, killing 17 men. Their bodies remain entombed.