It was a close call for the staff at the SGS Mining Research Facility in Red Lake yesterday morning.
Emergency crews were called to the plant after a highly combustible gas mixed with electricity and caused an explosion.
No one was injured in the incident as the building was evacuated in time.
SGS Spokesperson Russ Calio says the Ministry of Labour has been contacted as a number of questions remain unanswered.
Calio believes staff members were following procedures and something caused a valve to fail.
The explosion destroyed a section of the roof and outer walls, while windows and doors were blown out in surrounding buildings.
Calio hopes to restart operations on a limited basis by week’s end.
SGS provides chemical services to Goldcorp.
