The Department of Labour has ordered the Spring Creek mine near Greymouth to stop underground mining.

The department's mines inspectorate issued the mine with a prohibition notice yesterday following three recent incidents.

They include a diesel generator catching fire and injecting high concentrations of carbon monoxide into the mine, and problems with fans in the mine.

Solid Energy chief operating officer Barry Bragg says there were about 40 people underground at the time of the incidents.

"We treat all those incidents very seriously, we have a number of controls in place to ensure that no-one was at risk," he says.

"We've been asked to explain what steps we're taking to ensure those incidents don't occur again so we have stopped mining at Spring Creek."

He acknowledges the incidents shouldn't have happened.

"We're working through the investigations of all three incidents at the moment and we will be presenting that information to the Department of Labour."

Mr Bragg says Solid Energy will be meeting with the chief mines inspector in Wellington this morning to talk about the prohibition notice.

Grey District mayor Tony Kokshoorn says safety is paramount following the Pike River disaster.

"It's important that Solid Energy goes along with the Labour Department and make sure they do all the checks then the mine can reopen and production can resume."

He says the fact the department is now carrying out constant checks, can only be good for the industry.

"Safety is number one, two and three now down in coal mines after the Pike River Mine disaster, it is good to see the Labour Department coming in very strong, they seem to have a new lease of life here."

Mr Kokshoorn says it's just a shame the department didn't get this new lease on life many years ago.

The stoppage affects 120 workers who will continue to get full pay.

Photo: NZ Herald