A YouTube video shows eight miners wearing safety gear while performing the convulsive dance in the Agnew Gold Mine last week.

One of the workers, who would not give his name, told The West Australian newspaper that up to 15 people were fired, including some who watched the performance but did not participate.

Mine owner Barminco considered the stunt a safety issue and a breach of its "core values of safety, integrity and excellence," according to a dismissal letter cited by the paper.

The letter noted that Barminco would not allow the dancing workers "to be subcontracted by Barminco at any site domestically and globally".

It was not clear what safety guidelines were breached in the video.