Coal from Orgreave Colliery was taken directly into the adjacent British Steel coke ovens to make metallurgical coke for the steel industry. There was also an extensive coal by-products chemical works at the same site.

When the wind was in an unfavourable direction, it blew the fumes from the coke ovens straight over the colliery downcast shaft where the smell was quickly spread all round the mine workings underground.

Orgreave Colliery ceased production in 1981, but coal from nearby Treeton colliery was transported by conveyor to the coke ovens.