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Death of miner under investigation (5/02)

A highly toxic gas may have caused the death of an Inco Ltd. employee while he was working at the Copper Cliff nickel refinery two months ago. A 50 year-old man died suddenly on March 25 after his last shift at the refinery.

A highly toxic gas may have caused the death of an Inco Ltd. employee while he was working at the Copper Cliff nickel refinery two months ago. A 50 year-old man died suddenly on March 25 after his last shift at the refinery.

Inco officials say he displayed respiratory symptoms that are consistent with nickel carbonyl poisoning.

Workers are regularly exposed to nickel carbonyl, but are protected by using a breathing apparatus.

Although the worker’s death has not been conclusively determined, if carbonyl was a factor, a gas leak is the most likely reason for exposure, officials say.

The possible malfunctioning of the breathing apparatus is also being investigated. The man was noted as being in good health before he died.