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UK – Man Dies After Gas Blast At Potash Mine

Potash mineUK – Man Dies After Gas Blast At Potash Mine

A man has died following a gas “blow-out” at Britain’s deepest mine.
John Anderson died following “a sudden and powerful release of gas” in the early hours of Friday at Boulby, in East Cleveland, which is famed for potash fertiliser.
ICL UK, the firm which owns the mine, said no one else was injured and all other employees were safely evacuated.

Her Majesty’s Mines Inspectorate has been informed.

A spokesman for the mine said: “The police and mine inspectors and our senior managers are underground at the moment.”

Earlier, Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop, who represents Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: “There has been a serious incident believed to be a gas explosion and we are waiting for further details about what has happened.”

His “thoughts and prayers” were with the workforce. There was an underground fire at the mine in April, which left seven workers affected by smoke and they were taken to hospital for checks.
Last year the company announced job losses in a “significant restructuring” of its operations, including moving from producing potash to Polysulphate fertiliser.

The mine is 1,400m deep and its tunnels go far out under the North Sea. Miners take seven minutes to travel down by lift and the temperature at the bottom can reach 104F (40C).

A Cleveland Police Spokeswoman said: “We can confirm we were called at around 5.20am to an incident at Boulby Potash during which a man has died. Police remain at the scene and we are working to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. Our thoughts are with family, friends and colleagues.”

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