Bloomberg reported that BHP Billiton Ltd has been issued with 74 orders to stop work in Western Australia since March when deaths at mine sites caused the state government to toughen safety scrutiny of the world’s biggest mining company.

Mr Peter O’Loughlin a senior inspector at Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum said “Each notice required work to cease until certain conditions were met. This could range from a few hours to days, depending on the issue.”

According to state government figures the Melbourne based company which controls seven iron ore mines in Western Australia Pilbara region, reported five deaths in the state at its mine sites in the nine months to March 19th. State Mines and Petroleum Minister Mr Norman Moore said April 1st any prohibition notices for safety breaches at BHP sites would mean automatic shutdowns until safety hazards were fixed.

The department said in the statement that all requirements of the prohibitions notices issued to BHP have subsequently been met by the company.

Mr Peter Ogden a Melbourne-based BHP spokesman declined to comment.

(Sourced from Bloomberg)