Third worker dies at mine

SAFETY standards at a copper mine on Tasmania's west coast are under scrutiny after the third workplace death in six weeks.

SAFETY standards at a copper mine on Tasmania's west coast are under scrutiny after the third workplace death in six weeks occurred there yesterday.

Worksafe Tasmania is investigating the death of 53-year-old Michael George Welsh at Copper Mines of Tasmania's Mt Lyell Mine, near Queenstown, yesterday morning.

Production at the mine resumed a few weeks ago after being suspended following the death of two miners in December.

Yesterday's death, at 7.50am, is believed to have been caused by a sudden inflow of mud at the underground mine's lowest reaches. Mr Welsh, a loader operator, was unresponsive when found by a rescue team.

The previous accident, on December 9, claimed the lives of contractors Craig Gleeson and Alistair Lucas, who fell 35m down the mine's main shaft from a maintenance platform.

The state's Premier, Lara Giddings, said: "This is an absolute tragedy -- to think that there has been a third death in the mines at Queenstown."

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AAP