Worker dies in gas blowout in UK potash mine

A MINER has been killed in a gas blowout at the Boulby mine in Cleveland, UK.

Mine-owner ICL UK says the man named as John Anderson died this morning in a “sudden and powerful release of gas”.

All other workers at the mine – one of Europe’s deepest – were safely evacuated. Gazette Live reports that senior mine management, the police and Her Majesty’s Mine Inspectorate have gone underground to investigate the scene.

The site produces potash for fertilisers, with its mining tunnels running up to 1,400 m below the surface and out beneath the North Sea. The company announced last year that it would restructure its operations, with the loss of hundreds of jobs from its 1,100-strong workforce.

In April, there was a fire at the mine which left workers affected by smoke needing to go to hospital.
Local MP Tom Blenkinsop said his immediate thoughts are with Anderson’s family and friends and spoke of his alarm at the “two tragic incidents” that have occurred this year.

“I am concerned that this must not become a pattern. Mines legislation requires a full investigation, and I need to be reassured that this will indeed happen,” Blenkinsop said in a statement.

“I would also want to be reassured that recent redundancies at the mine have not altered day-to-day working practices to the extent that risk may have been allowed to creep back in. In the near future I will want to meet with both the mine owner […] and the mine unions on these issues.”