Fresh tensions have emerged between unions and BHP at the company's Port Hedland operations following an incident involving union representatives during a workplace visit.

Three representatives from the Electrical Trades Union and the Australian Workers Union were allegedly removed from a BHP site in Port Hedland during a right-of-entry visit on Thursday. The unions say the representatives were attempting to exercise their workplace access rights when the dispute occurred.

According to the union account, the representatives were directed to sit in a room that allegedly did not have suitable seating available. The disagreement subsequently resulted in the representatives being removed from the site.

The Electrical Trades Union has indicated that it intends to take the matter to the Federal Court. The proposed legal action could test the circumstances surrounding the representatives' access to the workplace and whether the relevant workplace-rights requirements were followed.

BHP has disputed the characterisation of the incident and said it does not tolerate aggressive behaviour in its workplaces. The company has maintained that workplace safety and appropriate conduct are important considerations at its operations.

The dispute comes at a time of heightened industrial relations activity at BHP's Port Hedland operations. Workers and unions have been negotiating over wages and employment conditions, with recent industrial action adding further pressure to discussions between the company and its workforce.

Port Hedland is a major centre for Australia's iron ore industry and BHP's operations in the region involve a large workforce. Industrial disputes at the port can therefore attract significant attention because the facilities play an important role in Australia's resources sector.

The latest disagreement is separate from the broader wage negotiations but occurs against the background of those discussions. Workers and unions have been seeking improved pay and conditions, while the company has been negotiating with employee representatives over a new workplace agreement.

The alleged removal of union representatives has now introduced another point of disagreement between the parties. If the matter proceeds to the Federal Court, the legal process may examine the circumstances of the workplace visit and the rights and responsibilities of those involved.

For the Port Hedland community, industrial relations at the port are significant because the mining and resources sector is a major source of employment and economic activity in the region. Changes to workplace arrangements can have effects beyond the immediate parties involved.

At this stage, the claims made by the union and BHP's response represent different accounts of the incident. The circumstances have not been determined by a court.