BHP fatality closes Australian iron ore mines

BHP Billiton has suspended iron ore mining operations in Western Australia following the death of a worker at its Yandi mine.

The fatality is the second to occur at the site within two weeks.

The mine, one of the biggest of its kind in the Pilbara iron belt, is operated by HWE Mining, a division of Leighton Holdings.

According to a report by news agency, Reuters, BHP is investigating the wider safety implications of the two incidents and has ordered the shutdown because the events may distract employees’ attention away from their tasks.

BHP has now lost four workers in just over a month.

At the end of July the company suspended mining operations at its Klipspruit Colliery in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, after a drill groundsman was killed when a rig moved.

It also reported a death at its Nelson Point iron ore operations in Port Hedland in Western Australia.

BHP supplies around 10% of the global iron ore market and in the 12 months to the end of June, the group produced a total of 104 million metric tons from its operations in Western Australia.