Radio New Zealand reported that the former CEO Pike River Coal has set up a new business consulting on, among other things, mine safety. The local mayor says the move is disrespectful.

But the Department of Labour says there is no law to stop Mr Peter Whittall setting up a mine safety business, even if he is convicted of breaching health and safety laws.

Mr Whittall was in charge of the Pike River mine at the time of the 2010 explosions that killed 29 men and he now faces 12 Department of Labour charges that he failed to take all practicable steps to ensure their safety. Mr Whittall says he plans to fight those charges.

He left the company in late November 2011 and registered his new company Peter Whittall and Associates, a few weeks later.

According to the business networking website Linked In, Mr Whittall consults on technical, safety, commercial and management issues primarily within the minerals industry. He is listed as a consultant and while the page refers to his experience at Pike River Mine, it makes no mention of the disaster.

The Grey Districts mayor Mr Tony Kokshoorn says given his history with Pike River he doubts any mining company would hire Mr Whittall, especially as a safety consultant. He added that "He is trying to put himself out there as a consultant yet he's been implicated in one of the biggest disasters in New Zealand in the past 100 years. I think to actually get out there and start consulting on safety is really a bit of a slap in the face for the families of the men who died."

Mr Whittall could not be contacted for a response.

Evidence given at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the disaster alleges a number of unsafe practices in the mine. The former safety manager for the mine, Mr Neville Rockhouse, told the inquiry safety problems at Pike River went for months without being fixed and he claimed to have been intimidated by Mr Whittall.

Meanwhile, the police say they will finalize recommendations on whether they will also file criminal charges over the disaster by the end of this month.

(Sourced from www.radionz.co.nz)