Miners call for checks

Coal extraction from Huntly East Mine remains suspended because of Labour Department safety concerns, but the owners remain adamant it is safe.

But its workers think differently, yesterday voting unanimously to demand Solid Energy improve mine safety by immediately instituting a system of worker-elected check inspectors and dropping its opposition to such a scheme being made a legal requirement nationwide.

Labour Department inspectors halted operations at the mine on Wednesday night when elevated levels of methane gas were detected.

The call was made at a meeting of 120 Huntly East miners which discussed the continuing suspension of coal production at the mine due to concerns over a build-up of methane gas.

EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O’Connell said Solid Energy needed to listen to its workforce and back worker-elected check inspectors.

‘‘Solid Energy can’t credibly claim it supports lifting New Zealand’s sorry mine safety regulations to international standards while it refuses to allow check inspectors and lobbies against law changes to make them compulsory,’’ he said.

A meeting yesterday between Solid Energy and the inspectors resulted in the miners being allowed to resume preparing area for mining, but not the mining itself.

Brett Murray, general manager of the department’s High Hazards Unit, said they had asked Solid Energy for more detailed information around the ventilation of the mine.