METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On January 27, 1998, a 57 year old shaft repairman, with 32 years of mining experience, was killed at an underground mine when he fell down a vertical shaft. A leadman and two workers were engaged in turning the skip from the ore side to the waste side when it became wedged. In attempting to free the skip, the victim fell into the shaft, which extended 4,000 feet into the mine. Both the leadman and the victim wore safety belts with D-ring attachments; however, neither were tied off to a safety line.

Safety belts and lines should be worn where there is danger of falling.

Work places should be examined at least once each shift for hazardous conditions

This is the fourth fatality reported in calendar year 1998 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 1997, there were four fatalities reported in these industries. This is the second fatality classified as Fall of Person in 1998. There was one Fall of Person fatality in the same period in 1997.

MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report