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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY -On July 27, 1999, a 36-year-old plant operator with 9 years mining experience was fatally injured at a sand and gravel operation. The victim had entered the feed hopper, apparently to dislodge a build up of mud, when he was engulfed by material and suffocated.

MSHA - Fatal Alert Bulletin Photo


Best Practices

  • Hoppers should be equipped with mechanical devices or other effective means of handling material so persons are not required to work where they are exposed to entrapment by sliding material

  • A safety harness attached to a lifeline should always be used when persons enter hoppers. A second person should constantly adjust the lifeline to eliminate slack.

  • Ladders, platforms or staging should be provided where persons are required to enter bins or hoppers.

  • Maintenance should not be performed unless the power is off and the machinery or equipment is blocked against hazardous motion.
This is the 27th fatality reported in calendar year 1999 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 1998, there were 31 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the ninth fatality classified as Powered Haulage in 1999. There were 12 Powered Haulage fatalities in the same period in 1998.

For more information:
Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report



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