METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On February 3, 1997, a driller with 5 years of mining experience was killed at a zinc operation. The employee was operating a single boom jumbo drill, drilling blast holes in a brow. The victim was crushed when a massive roof fall occurred which collapsed the canopy. This is the fifth fatality reported in calendar year 1997 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 1996, there were two fatalities reported in these industries. This is the first fatality classified as fall of roof in 1997. There were no fall of roof fatalities during the same period in 1996.

For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL97M05]