A group of work mates have lost their jobs doing the Harlem Shake while on duty. Courtesy Today Network Nine

THIRTY seconds of fun has cost up to 15 miners their jobs in Western Australia.

A group of workers from Barminco and Hahn Electrical Contracting were fired for their involvement in a re-enactment of the viral dance craze, the Harlem Shake.

The news comes as US aviation safety authorities investigate an incident where an airline allowed university students and passengers to perform the popular dance in the aisles of a plane during a flight.

One of the sacked miners claims no safety regulations were breached, and a second says no-one was endangered in the stunt at Agnew gold mine, the West Australian reports.

The Barminco staff have not only been fired, but banned for life, according to a letter of dismissal.

Are you, or do you know, one of the miners? Contact Daniel Piotrowski

Apparently all the miners involved were wearing helmets, lamps, and glasses and had oxygen on hand. The workers believe their only breach of rules was removing their long-sleeve shirts.

"It was 2.30 in the morning and we thought we just had to do something to get us going again," one unnamed worker said.

"Sometimes you lose a bit of momentum at that time of the morning."

It took a week for all of the miners to lose their jobs after the 30-second clip was uploaded to YouTube.

Meanwhile in the US, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) is looking at an incident on board a Frontier Airlines flight from Colorado Springs to San Diego.

The university students, members of their school's ultimate frisbee team, had permission from the flight crew to perform the Harlem Shake and recruit fellow passengers using the PA system.

A video of the shenanigans - Harlem Shake Frontier Flight 157 - had more than three millions views on YouTube at 8am AEDT.

The FAA has taken more of a dim view on the fun and games.

A spokesman said: "If we find any evidence of a violation of Federal Aviation Regulations, then we would pursue it."

The airline says it followed safety procedures and turned the seatbelt sign off.

Student Matt Zelin told his school's newspaper is surprised the incident is under review.

"When we got to the airport we were kind of ready and had brought costumes and stuff," he said.

"Obviously I hope that this whole situation is solved with the FAA. "I don't see there being any reason why this should cause any trouble.

"We asked the staff and they said it was safe."

That will be a question for the authorities. But as one YouTube user said: "life is too short not to have a banana suit on a plane".

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