An investigation is underway at an Upper Hunter Mine where a worker was critically injured in an accident.

The 26 year old contractor was carrying out gas drainage drilling at Ashton Coal's longwall operation near Camberwell when the accident happened. It is understood during a flushing process a steel pipe became disconnected under pressure and blew off hitting the man with force. He suffered critical injuries and was flown to Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.

The site is being inspected today by officers from NSW Trade and Investment and the union district check inspector. They have been speaking to a co-worker who was with him to determine what happened. The men were working under contract for Port Macquarie based firm Silver City Drilling.

Source - ABC.net

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