Mine manager rejects safety claims
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Mr Ball says he always put safety first. (ABC News: Michael Brooks)
The former underground manager at the Beaconsfield Gold Mine has dismissed claims he put production ahead of safety in the lead up to a fatal rockfall.
Pat Ball was the underground manager when the 2006 Anzac day rockfall killed Larry Mr Knight and trapped Todd Russell and Brant Webb for a fortnight.
Mr Webb has given evidence that Mr Ball was unapproachable as a manager and was often sarcastic to miners.
Another miner has told the inquest Mr Ball asked him to break a safety rule.
Mr Ball said he always put safety first, and he even introduced a safety reporting system.
But he admitted he was not popular and said "I would be a dubious manager if i got on with everyone all the time."
Coroner Rod Chandler interrupted the mine's lawyers when they were questioning Mr Ball, saying the evidence was not helpful or surpirising given the favourable tone of the questions.
