METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY- On June 28, 1999, a 44-year-old production manager with 24 years mining experience was fatally injured at a sand and gravel operation. The victim was operating a track-mounted backhoe along the side of a pond. The bank gave way and the victim drowned when the backhoe fell into the pond.

Best Practices

• Ground conditions should be visually inspected to ensure stability prior to positioning mobile equipment.

This is the 21st fatality reported in calendar year 1999 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 1998, there were 27 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the fifth fatality classified as Machinery in 1999. There were six Machinery fatalities in the same period in 1998.

For more information:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report

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