A worker at a NSW underground coal mine has been taken to hospital after she was injured servicing an exhaust fan.
Emergency services responded to reports of an incident at South32's Dendrobium coal mine at Mount Kembla in the Illawarra region.
NSW Paramedics spokesman Norm Rees said the 32-year-old woman was injured servicing an exhaust underground.
"When we arrived, we found a 32-year-old female who was working underground and was putting an extension tube on a 700 mm ventilation tube," said Mr Rees.
"As she stood up in front of the auxiliary fan, the air being drawn through had sucked her into the pipe, pulling her ... into the tube."
Workers helped extricate her from the mine and she was treated by paramedics before she was taken to hospital.
"We have assessed her, and it looks like she has a fractured clavicle, fractured pelvis and fractured femur," said Mr Rees.
"We have treated and splinted accordingly and transported to Wollongong Hospital."
A spokesperson for South32 said an investigation of the incident had started.
"We can confirm that one of our team members was injured at Dendrobium Mine this morning," a statement read.
"Our immediate focus is on providing them with our support and ensuring they receive appropriate care. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our people.
"An investigation will be undertaken into the incident and the New South Wales Resources Regulator will be notified."
