Production at a remote Rio Tinto mine has been suspended due to safety concerns.

Electrical Trades Union (ETU) delegates say their investigations of Rio’s Gove Operations bauxite mine have reveal lighting that is “definitely not up to standard”.

“On investigation, out at the wharf there we found there was absolute inadequate lighting throughout the whole area,” ETU Northern Territory organiser David Hayes said.

“We had to ask Rio Tinto to stop loading the ship at that time, so some measures to get lighting installed could happen.

“It's absolutely extreme that we would have to go there with a company like Rio Tinto, who are a massive multinational organisation, who would put their workers in a high-risk work environment, and have them trudging around with no lights on, or very little lighting.”

It is just the latest in a series of poor safety allegations levelled at the mine.

Mr Hayes said there were also “environmental and public safety concerns” in the nearby township of Nhulunbuy, home to many Rio Tinto workers and their families.

The union rep said the town has a number of ageing electricity boxes that are leaking oil into the ground.

“Up to 10 transformers around Nhulunbuy are leaking oil to ground and require topping up on a regular basis,” he said.

“The transformers are located in areas that are accessible to the public, one near a primary school and a childcare centre.

“Given their available resources and the size of their operation, are Rio Tinto acting in an environmentally responsible manner?

“[That's] the question that I would ask.”

The Northern Territory's Environmental Protection Authority says it will “contact Rio Tinto regarding the transformers”.

Rio Tinto says some have already been upgraded.

“[Rio] is responsible for providing Nhulunbuy with a safe and reliable power supply and, in recent years, we have invested several million dollars in major capital upgrades to the power network,” a company spokesperson said.