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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On January 27, 2000, a 49 year-old driller with 11-� years mining experience was fatally injured at a crushed stone operation. The victim had positioned his truck mounted drill parallel to the edge of the high wall in preparation for drilling. The stabilizers were lowered and as the drill mast was being raised, one of the stabilizers sank into the ground causing the drill to overturn. The drill fell over the highwall edge, crushing the operator's cab.

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Best Practices

  • Persons experienced in identifying loose ground should examine highwall edges prior to work beginning and as conditions warrant during the shift.

  • Drills should not be positioned parallel to highwall edges.

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    E-mail Suggestion for Accident Prevention Program     		Submit your own suggestion for a remedy to prevent this type of accident in the future.
    Please specify if you wish your submission to be anonymous or whether your name may be used. Please include the year of the fatality and the fatality number.

    This is the fourth fatality reported in calendar year 2000 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 1999, there were four fatalities reported in these industries. This is the second fatality classified as Machinery in 2000. There were no Machinery fatalities in the same period in 1999.

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    The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data ONLY and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality.


    For more information:
    Fatal Alert Bulletin Icon MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report - Not Available Yet