METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On June 25, 1997, a maintenance specialist, with 16 years of mining experience, was fatally injured at a cement mill. The employee had been performing preventative maintenance on the 7th floor of the mill building, which included checking items on the mill elevator. He apparently opened a door of the elevator shaft and fell approximately 13 feet, landing on top of the elevator. An artery in his leg was severed by a protruding piece of steel which was part of the elevator conveyance positioned between the 6th and 7th floor. This is the 36th fatality reported in calendar year 1997 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 1996, there were 25 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the 4th fatality classified as slip/fall of person in 1997. There was one slip/fall of person fatality during the same period in 1996.

MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report