METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On February 14, 1997, a loader operator with 3 years of mining experience was killed at a stone quarry. The employee drove a loader to the top of the quarry bench to blow out equipment air filters. The loader traveled past an air compressor and over the edge of the highwall, crashing on the quarry floor 30 feet below. The victim died from sustained injuries. This is the ninth fatality reported in calendar year 1997 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 1996, there were six fatalities reported in these industries. This is the fifth fatality classified as powered haulage in 1997. There were three powered haulage fatalities during the same period in 1996.

MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report [FTL97M09]