Worker killed at BHP's Yandi mine

BHP Billiton's iron ore and associated port operations have been suspended until further notice following the death of a 19 year-old man at the Yandi mine site late yesterday.

Company spokesperson John Crowley confirmed the man, a Henry Walker Eltin employee, was killed in a collission between a light vehicle and a haul truck. .

BHP and HWE have launched their own investigations into the fatality and Mr Crowley said both companies will fully co-operate with other investigations.

The 19 year-old is the third person to be killed in the last two months while working at a BHP site.

In July, a 52 year-old man was killed while performing maintenance work in a locomotive workshop at the company's Nelson Point iron ore operations.

Last month a 29 year-old man suffered fatal injuries in a workshop accident at Yandi.

Mr Crowley stressed to WA Business News that all three fatalities are separate incidents.

"We're very mindful of ensuring that people are focused and put themselves before production," he said.

The Department of Consumer and Employment Protection's resources safety division will go to the mine and police say a coronial investigation is underway.

BHP spokeswoman Samantha Evans said production at all of the company's large iron ore mines in the Pilbara region, which include Mt Whaleback and Mining Area C, had been temporarily suspended because management wanted to focus on safety.

"Safety comes before production," Ms Evans said.

"We're concerned that incidents such as this may distract employees' attention away from the task, which could put them at risk.

"So by suspending operations, we can reduce the risks associated with that."

She said staff had been offered counselling.

BHP Billiton said in a statement on its website that "our immediate priorities are the welfare of the family of the deceased and other people involved in the incident".

State Development Minister Eric Ripper has offered his condolences to the family and friends of the 19-year-old man.