• Formal procedures that address possible hazards should be implemented prior to beginning major maintenance tasks.



• A restricted drop area must be established prior to dropping materials from elevated locations.



• All persons should be removed from drop areas and barricades or barriers should be installed to prohibit access to protect personnel from falling material.

	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 11^th fatality reported in calendar year 2002 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2001, there were 8 fatalities reported in these industries. This is the first fatality classified as Handling Material in 2002. There were no Handling Material fatalities in the same period in 2001.

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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:
MSHA's Fatal Accident Investigation Report