Safety in spotlight after two dead in mine explosion

A fatal underground mine explosion that left a man and a young woman dead has put the sector's safety systems in the spotlight.

University of Queensland professor occupational health and safety in mining David Cliff said it was rare for such incidents to occur with six to eight mining fatalities recorded nationwide on a yearly basis.

The academic, who previously served as a health and safety adviser to the Queensland Mining Council, did not want to speculate on the causes of the explosion before a thorough investigation had been conducted.

"We don't know what's the cause here whether it's human error, whether it's machine failure or premature detonation," Prof Cliff said.

He pointed to several factors including possible gaps in institutional knowledge with mining operations restarting in 2025 after ASX-listed Polymetals acquired the site in 2023.

"Production is about making a dollar at the end of the day," he said.

The lead and zinc mine had previously operated since 1982 but was closed for maintenance in 2020.

Professor Cliff believes the incident was an avoidable tragedy.

"This incident should not have occurred ... because the mining industry is the best resourced to manage health and safety."

He said metalliferous mines have been allowed more latitude in the way they interpret and apply the safety legislation which is "often not as detailed or prescriptive, or definitive" compared to coal mines.

But he noted overall safety in the mining industry had improved significantly in the last 30 years.

Mining and Energy Union NSW south western district president Bob Timbs said a "catastrophic failure of a safety system" would have caused the deaths.

"In this day and age, that type of accident just should not have happened," he said.

The NSW Resources Regulator confirmed it would steer an incident investigation, while police will also prepare a report for the coroner.

Copper and gold mining are the two leading employment industries in the region.

The site, 40km north of Cobar, is a major underground silver, zinc and lead mine.

It is the second-largest project in the polymetallic region known as the Cobar Basin.

The latest incident in the town follows the deaths of three workers in 1980 in a shaft fire, while a cave-in killed four miners in 1971.